The owl was believed to have been killed by a fox

Jazz, a four-year-old European eagle owl, disappeared at 1400 BST on 12 April in Valentines Park, Ilford, east London.

He flew to a nearby rooftop, but when some crows went for him he flew off in a "distressed state".

Days later the body of an Eagle owl was found in a garden and it was thought to be Jazz.

Mark Triphook, Jazz's owner, believed the dead owl was his because they are so rare.

But a week ago another owl was spotted by a member of the public less than a mile from Mr Triphook's home.

'Happy to be home'

Mr Triphook was called and managed to catch him by tempting him with food.

"He'd obviously been eating because he wasn't that hungry", he told BBC London.

"He would have survived by eating anything - even berries.

"He only took about half-an-hour to settle and is very happy to be home.

"It's great to have him back, we are so pleased because we were quite upset when the dead owl was found."

Police had alerted the public to beware of the owl when it went missing because Jazz would be capable of attacking cats, small dogs and possibly a small child.