An owl sparked an RSPCA rescue mission after it became stuck behind a grandfather clock in Bolton.
The homeowners called the animal charity after the barn owl flew into their house in Chorley New Road and got trapped behind the antique.
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Emma Dingley attended to try and catch the barn owl and bring the bird to safety.
Eventually it was released back into the wild.
She said: “The couple had their front door open due to the heat and this lovely, young barn owl just flew right in and behind the grandfather clock where he got quite stuck!
“I managed to move the clock and catch the owl and checked him over for injuries but luckily, he was absolutely fine. Maybe I’d got him just in the nick of time!
“I then took him outside with Enid and Bryan, whose house it was, and all three of us released him back into the wild.
“They love the local wildlife and especially owls so it was such a lovely job being able to send this barn owl back off into the wild. He didn’t waste any time and flew off straight away! I think it was my favourite rescue of my career so far!”
The couple who contacted the RSPCA, Enid and Bryan Haslam, explained they were watching TV when the owl flew into their house and started flapping around shelves of plates, luckily without breaking any, before flying behind the clock.
Bryan said: “It must have flown in when we were watching the TV. Enid spotted it above the kitchen cupboard and he looked straight at her. She opened the back door for it to fly out but he flew behind the grandfather clock so he must have liked it inside!
“He was a beautiful bird. We were glad he could be released.”
