AN eagle owl with a penchant for window shopping in a busy town centre has been reunited with its owner.

The famous "Boro owl" was last night in safe hands after owner Marc Grey successfully caught up with the runaway.

Mr Grey, 23, from Loftus, east Cleveland, lost the bird, called Storm, 18 months ago when it flew from its cage after being spooked by fireworks.

He saw coverage in the media of a similar bird which had been spotted flying around Captain Cook Square, in Middlesbrough.

The distinctive bird, with its 5ft wingspan, had been known to terrorise people around the train station. But it appeared to have decided to try out the local delicacies in the town, with a pigeon providing its morning feast.

Mr Grey's bird, a nine-year-old European eagle owl had identical markings to the one in the press.

On a mission, he went to the town to hunt down the bird.

He said: "I found him at the back of the railway station and had to approach him very slowly and carefully so as not to scare him. Luckily, I managed to grab him. He is only about two ounces under the weight he was.

"He's obviously been eating lots of rats and pigeons."