The Bengali eagle owl is not used to fending for herself

Bella, an eight-year-old with a 2ft wing span, went missing from her home in Norwich on Thursday.

Her owner James Hodson fears she could starve to death after three days in the wild as she unused to fending for herself.

"She normally feeds on baby chicks and mice, but she has never had to find food on her own," he said.

Keep away

Police have warned people to keep away from the tawny orange and black owl if they spot her.

"She is described as aggressive so should not be approached," said a spokesman for Norfolk police.

Mr Hodson and his wife, Niamh, 32, have kept Bella in their garden for five years.

She fled after the weight of snow and ice piled on her aviary brought a section of it crashing down overnight.

Bella left behind her nine-year-old mate Jester, another Bengali eagle owl.