HARRY Potter had Hedwig as his pet owl but youngsters at a Bolton school went three better when an eagle owl, a tawny owl and a barn owl flew in.

The pupils, aged between 11 and 13, at Rivington and Blackrod High School, had to chance to get close to the magnificent birds during a special session of their environment club.

The owner of the birds, Bill Higham, known as Barn Owl Bill, called in at the school to talk about his work rehabilitating native owls so they can be released back into the wild. Bill and his wife, Carol - known as Barn Owl Betty - are refurbishing a bird of prey centre near Leyland.

Teacher Kathryn Fraser said: "The children were absolutely thrilled. I don't think we've ever had so many pupils turn up for environmental club, even members of staff were crowding in to have a look.

"When Bill was talking, the children were totally silent, they were completely enthralled."

Children involved in the school's environmental club, Respect, have already taken part in a number of projects including planting around the Rivington Lane school and regularly going on wildlife walks.

Mrs Fraser said: "We were hoping the children would be able to get involved in a community project and this one has really captured their imagination."

New aviaries are needed at the Leyland sanctuary to house the birds, as well as picnic tables, benches and keen gardeners.