An adolescent owl is enjoying her first taste of freedom after escaping from her owner during her first flying lesson.

Flora, a 12-week-old European eagle owl, flew away late on Sunday from her owner Ian Wingar, 60.

Mr Wingar's wife, Judith, 55, said that Flora flew away after being taken out of an aviary in the garden of the Wingars' home in West Mersea.

Flora, named because she was hatched from an egg kept in a margarine tub in an incubator, is 2ft tall, light brown with dark brown markings and orange eyes

Published Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette