AN ESCAPED bird of prey has been spotted in the Deane area.

Christine Bessell, aged 64, arrived home from shopping to find what she believed was a peregrine falcon resting on her back garden fence.

Mrs Bessell said she was concerned for the health of the bird, which had a leather strap called a jess on its legs.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," said Mrs Bessell, of Sundridge Close.

"It was bigger than a kestrel but not as big as an eagle owl and I could see the jesses on its legs.

"When I came into the living room it flew off, then I saw it fly over the roof towards St Helens Road."

Juliana Fowler, of the Independent Bird Register, which tracks lost birds, said it could look after itself.

She said: "It will be self-hunting and survive on its wits. The time to worry is if the birds have any more equipment on than jesses because they can get caught up in trees."

She said the bird was probably slightly overweight and had not returned to its owner for food.

No-one in the Bolton area had reported a missing bird, she said. If you see the escaped bird, call the register on 0870 608 8500.