Sparrowhawk court capture

Police gave their assistance to a court escape with a difference last week - after a bird of prey became trapped inside a legal building.

The sparrowhawk had flown inside Blackburn Magistrates Court in pursuit of a pigeon but became disorientated and could not get back out.

Lancashire Constabulary's wildlife officer Mark Thomas was called to assist a raptor rescue team from Cuerden Birds of Prey and the hawk was captured and released back into the wild.

Mark said: "It is not often that the police will help with an escape from court, but on this occasion the bird was causing quite a bit of disruption and was also becoming distressed.

"With assistance from the Cuerden experts, we were quickly able to catch it and set it free. The pigeon also escaped from becoming the other bird's meal, as it flew back out of its own accord."