A GIANT bird of prey that went missing in the Yorkshire Dales five days ago has been found safe and well - near Blackpool.

The Steller’s sea eagle called Nikita, took off on Saturday when she was being flown by Chris O’Donnell from his home at the base of Pen-y-Ghent, near Settle.

Mr O’Donnell said the bird had been tracked down in Poulton-le-Fylde, near Blackpool, Lancashire, at 3.30pm today (Thursday January 31).

He said: “We are very relieved. For the last five days Nikita has been trying to find her way home. When we saw her she came straight to us.

“We have had about 50 calls a day from people saying they had seen her and earlier today she was tracked her over Clitheroe, Longridge and Great Eccleston. 

"We have had so much help, but it has been an amazing journey. We are completely exhausted from days of running around after."