A LOST owl that caused a flutter when it spent more than a week on top of a country house hotel has landed safely on its feet after being rescued by an Eastleigh falconer.

The Giant European Owl - the world's largest species of owl weighing up to 9lbs and with a wingspan of up to 6ft - hit the headlines in April when he landed at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa in Bedfordshire.

Apparently lost, the owl took up residence on top of the mansion roof, only flying down to collect food placed beneath a bush by hotel staff.

By coincidence falconer Bob Dalton, who keeps a private collection of birds of prey near Eastleigh, had been booked to stage his first display at Luton Hoo a week after the owl landed and was able to tempt it down with food and catch him.

The owl, nicknamed Wernher by Luton Hoo staff, was taken back to Hampshire by Mr Dalton. After four months of rehabilitation the owl is now taking a starring role in some of his bird education days.

"He had obviously been handled before but when he landed at Luton Hoo he was not in the best condition and was disorientated, so it was a good job the hotel staff decided to start feeding him," said Bob who has been a falconer for 30 years.

"I am very pleased with the way he settled in and he is now very happy being handled and flies back to me. I have taken things slowly and have just started using him in some of my education days and it has gone very well."