A FALCONER who lost his prized bird of prey on Darwen moors today appealed for the public's help.

Jason Butler, of Kelvin Street, Darwen, was out with Bernadette the Saker Falcon last weekend when it failed to return.

Today he appealed for anyone who has spotted her to contact him immediately.

Jason said: "For some reason she didn't come back. I don't know if something frightened her.

"I am worried. She can hunt stuff from the ground, but if she gets really hungry she may look for other people on the moors to give her food.

"She is a really nice tempered falcon. If anyone finds her if they put a glove on they will be able to give her food."

Jason's day job is as a deliveryman, but in his spare time he is a keen falconer.

As well as Bernadette, he also has a Harris hawk and a goshawk.

Saker Falcons are big, strong birds of prey with large feet and pointed wings. They tend to be around 45 centimetres tall and have large eyes and a hooked beak.

Jason said his falcon looked "like a large crow but very brown, pale beige on the front with a blue tone to her beak".

He can be contacted on 07870 594369.