BIRD pulling power attracted crowds of children to a Bolton pet shop at the weekend.

Owl experts were on hand at Bolton's Pets at Home store in Manchester Road on Saturday, to tell customers about birds of prey.

Former gamekeeper Rob Smith dropped in with European eagle owl Yerevan -- which has a giant six-foot wingspan and talons as big as a man's fist.

The event also attracted many Harry Potter fans, who were warned not to buy the feathered beasts. The smash hit film features an owl as one of the characters.

Mr Smith, who runs a wildlife sanctuary in Staffordshire, which has already seen a big increase in the number of abandoned birds, said: "An owl this size can scratch a child's eye out in seconds. It is definitely not a child's pet.

"We are anticipating that many more owls will be rescued in the next few months as families get fed up of keeping them after buying them in a craze at Christmas." He added: "I wouldn't be surprised if people in Bolton have bought owls, mainly snowy owls, as pets this Christmas only to find out that they are very aggressive creatures to keep.

"All snowy owls want to do is attack people."

Carla Worsley, aged 10, from Harwood, was brave enough to get close to stroke Yerevan. Carla, a fan of Harry Potter, said that she wouldn't dream of having an owl as a pet.

"I don't think it is fair. They're too big and they'd be stuck in a cage." Her dad, Neil, added: "People shouldn't keep anything exotic if they don't have the knowledge, the time or the space. I've tried to keep finches in the past, but I even found them hard work.

Harris hawks Jack and Jill were also in the store, along with Bracken the golden eagle, as part of an impressive display of birds.

People in Bolton struggling with their birds of prey or snakes can ring the sanctuary for advice on 01244 391391.