Police in Yorkshire catch man shooting pigeons to use as bait to recapture his pet owl

A man who was firing an air rifle at pigeons while his young children were with him has had the weapon confiscated.

Bizarrely, the man explained that he was trying to use the birds as bait to recapture his pet owl, which had escaped.

He was caught in a public area of woodland near Wakefield and had his children with him at the time.

The air rifle was seized by police and the owner reported for firearms offences.