TWO of the fastest birds on the planet are circling the skies of Winchester to find a new home.

The peregrine falcons have been moved from their nest on Hampshire's former police headquarters before it is demolished for housing.

The 1960s tower block in Romsey Road has been netted over and is set to be pulled down over summer.

A small box for the falcons has been installed by Winchester University on its Burma Road halls of residence - but it's up to the birds whether they land there.

"I would say there's probably quite a small chance that the peregrines will choose to use it - maybe a 10 per cent chance," said Keith Betton, county recorder at Hampshire Ornithological Society, which organised the work. "I think it's much more likely they'll try to find a church or another building that works for them.

"Sometimes what they do is take a year out and don't nest. To nest out of the area and move into another area they might be moving into another peregrine's territory."

The police headquarters was decommissioned last year to make way for a proposed 200-house estate.

The 1960s tower block will be dismantled from the top downwards using long reach machinery. Demolition would take up to four months and is expected to start in April if the scheme is approved by Winchester City Council next month.

"Subject to demolition being complete by August, we would expect the first homes to be completed by early 2018," said David Gilchrist, of developer Berkeley Homes.

Conservationists considered Winchester's prison and hospital as potential new homes for the falcons before settling on the university. Winchester Cathedral was approached last year but opted out due to ongoing maintenance work on the roof, which would disrupt the birds.

Strict conservation laws prevent them from being disturbed during nesting.

The university has promised to set up a webcam if the birds settle on their halls, providing live video of their nesting.

Peregrine falcons can reach speeds of more than 200mph, making them the fastest creatures on Earth. They were culled during the Second World War to protect carrier pigeons used by spies as messengers, but have returned to Hampshire over the last 20 years.