THE owners of a barn owl that flew the nest are hoping for its safe return.

Jess, a captive-bred bird, does not know how to hunt and has never been alone in the wild.

Owners Linda Winter and Mark Dickson fear she may starve to death if she isn't found and are appealing to home owners to check their gardens for her sleeping during the day.

Linda, 34, said: "She will be awake at night crying and if people hear her they must let us know. We are so worried."

The three-year-old barn owl flew off when she was startled while being taken out on a lead last Friday evening.

Jess who had been with the family's home in Wycoller Avenue, Brunshaw, Burnley, for only a couple of months, was being trained to find her way home. The couple were out with Linda's son, nine year-old Thomas, who was holding the owl, when she escaped.

Linda added: "We have been out every night for most of the night looking for her because we are really worried.

"She doesn't know the area and she is not aware of other birds which might attack her."

Jess is cream coloured with brown speckles and a heart-shaped face and Miss Winter is convinced she is still in Brunshaw after several sightings over the weekend.

She has a purple tag on her foot with her independent bird registration number 12741U.

Linda said: "She must have her lead on, so she will stand out from other wild owls."

Jess flew off, leaving her nine-week-old pal, a European Eagle Owl called Boo Boo.

Anyone who may have seen Jess is asked to ring the family on 0781 4315442.