Peregrine falcons are back nesting in a town centre - despite the demolition of a spot where they had set up home to rear chicks.

In 2019 two birds of prey raised two chicks on the former Thwaites brewery tower in Blackburn.

The presence of the protected birds delayed knocking down the building until the offspring had fledged and left their nest.

Now a reader has spotted a pair of peregrine falcons on Blackburn Town Hall and its tower block.

Reader Peter Ireland contacted the Lancashire Telegraph after photographing the birds and said: "I spotted a pair of peregrine falcons circling Blackburn Town Hall.

"After a few minutes, they both landed.

"After I finished my shopping, I noticed they were still there, so I rushed home to get my camera.

"Fortunately for me, they hadn’t moved by the time I returned. I managed to get some shots off."

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokeswoman said: "It would appear that large birds have been circulating the Tower Block roof for some time.

"On inspection we can establish evidence of feathers and bones, but none of any kind of nest."

A falcon was found on the Thwaites Tower in February 2009 by the brewery's regional sales manager Mike Jepson, a bird spotting enthusiast.

Two years earlier, the chimney at India Mill in Darwen became the home for nesting peregrine falcons.

As a result, the next stage of the chimney’s maintenance work and a new office development were stopped for four months.

Peregrine falcons have full legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Nests and eggs are also protected and the law makes it an offence to take, damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it is in use or being built or to take or destroy the eggs.

It is thought around 1,500 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons currently live in the UK and have been drawn to cities and towns to feed on pigeons and other birds.