One of the biggest owls in the world has been stolen from a Stevenage home and could be loose in the area.

An aviary in the garden of a house in Holly Copse was broken into sometime between 3pm last Friday and 10am the following morning, and an eagle owl either stolen or released.

The one-and-half-year-old mottled brown bird is around 2ft 6ins tall with pointed black ear tufts and a distinctive call.

Rural Special Inspector Simon Wintle said the bird may be loose and hunting for food as it was last fed the day before it went missing.

He added: “The owner is very keen to be reunited with the owl and I would ask anyone who thinks they may have seen it, or if anyone has any information to its disappearance, please get in contact police via the non-emergency number 101 citing crime reference number E1/12/5623.”