Concerns for missing big bird of prey Flare
A LARGE bird of prey has gone missing after escaping from its perch in a back garden.
The red-tailed hawk, which has a three-foot wingspan, is on the loose after it flew off from its owner’s home in Coalville at about 5.30pm on Monday.
Owner Lee Millard said he has had the six-year-old bird called Flare for five months.
“She managed to get loose from her ties on the perch,” he said.
“I would appeal to anyone who sees her to give me a call immediately.
“She still has some of her equipment on her legs so she might get tangled in branches. People should not try to rescue her because they will scare and spook her.
“If anyone sees her they should contact me and I can go and get her back.”
Lee, a 28-year-old heavy plant operator on construction sites, said he got Flare from a falconer five months ago.
He said: “She has never got loose
before so I am worried about her because she could be tangled up somewhere in distress.”
Red-tailed hawks, which can dive at speeds of up to 120mph, are native of North America and eat small mammals.
Lee can be contacted on 07867 413624.
A LORRY driver was taken to hospital after being attacked by another motorist at a set of traffic lights on a motorway slip road.
The HGV driver was assaulted after he got out of his cab on a slip road at Junction 22 of the southbound M1 near Markfield and Coalville at about 5.50pm on Monday.
The injured driver, who was punched in the face, was taken to hospital but discharged later.
Police closed two lanes of the slip road while they dealt with the incident.
A police spokesman said: “Officers are investigating an incident on the slip road of the M1 at Junction 22 yesterday (Monday, March 1).
“At around 5.50pm, the driver of a lorry reported that he had been assaulted by a man who had got out of another vehicle while they were both stopped at traffic lights.
“The victim said he was punched and that the man got back into his vehicle and drove off.
“The lorry driver remained at the scene and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
“He has since been discharged. “Two lanes of the slip road were closed while officers attended the scene.
“Inquiries into the incident are continuing.
“No arrests have been made at this time.”