A PIGEON which disappeared after a raid on its owner's house has been reunited thanks to a Citizen appeal.

Harry went missing three weeks ago after a burglary at Stan Swift's home. The pigeon had never left the garage before and Stan was so scared for his safety that he offered a £50 reward for his safe return.

After scouring the streets of Chorley for two weeks, Stan was thrilled when a woman from Kirkstall Avenue saw Harry pecking at her window and recognised him from our appeal.

Delighted Stan said: "I received a phone call from the woman who said she had a pigeon at her back window which kept trying to fly on to her arm. I just knew it was Harry so I rushed down there to collect him. I'm so grateful, it's so nice to have him home."

Stan rescued the blue and grey speckled pigeon 14 months ago after finding him injured in Manchester city centre. He fed him up and encouraged him to fly away but Harry was so content that he wouldn't leave the garage. Animal lover Stan said Harry had become a part of his family.

"After the article appeared in the Citizen I had so many calls from other pigeon owners offering me their young birds, but I didn't want them, I just wanted Harry back," he said.

"He's so special to me, he's just unique. He's not just a pigeon he's a part of us. I'm just so happy, I thought he'd been stolen and I'd given up any hope of finding him but now he's come back. It's amazing."

And it's not the first time Stan has been reunited with a pet thanks to the Citizen. Two years ago his dog Skip ran off after being scared by fireworks. But Stan placed £100 reward in our paper and the dog was found by readers.