Solly has been missing since March

Owner Dave Lowes-Bird has spent most of the week chasing his feathered fried around the Pembrokeshire town and has come tantalisingly close to catching Solly, who stands two foot tall.

But the European Eagle Owl has become stressed with all the attention it is getting and Mr Lowes-Bird has been struck down by flu after spending so many hours in the cold and rain.

Now he is taking time out to recover and is hoping a break over the bank holiday weekend will also give Solly a chance to relax.

The owl got out of his aviary more than 40 miles away at the Culla Park Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Trimsaran, near Llanelli, almost nine weeks ago.

Survive

Mr Lowes-Bird had all but given-up hope of seeing Solly again until he started receiving reports that it had been spotted in Haverfordwest.

His wife Yvonne said her husband would redouble his efforts to capture the bird next week.

She pleaded with members of the public not to approach Solly while it is on the loose.

"It must be caught as Solly cannot survive long-term in the wild," she said.

"Dave will try again after the bank holiday."

Advice for anyone who sees Solly is not to feed it.

Something like a slice of bacon could kill it as its digestive system is used to a diet of rats and mice.