A traffic warden who had a bird of prey "towed away" has personally released it back into the wild.
The peregrine falcon was grounded during a storm and was spotted in distress by traffic warden Lee Gallagher, Merseyside.
The majestic bird - which Lee nicknamed 'Perry' - was brought down in torrential rain and was left floundering in Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.
Locals were all in a flutter over what to do with the ferocious bird and it was then that Lee, 40, stepped-in.
He used the skills he'd learned in dealing with racing pigeons as a boy and used a jacket as a shield he carefully scoop-up Perry and cover his head.
Lee said: "It is very unusual for any bird of prey to be so gentle. Perry was just so tired and hungry that he did not put up a fight. He didn't try to peck me or attack in any way.
"It was as if he knew I was there to save him and he just stayed in my arms until I got him to the car, then let me stroke the back of his head.
"He looked very confused out there in the road. I think he might have hit a wall and fallen due to the fierce rain, which was almost horizontal."
Lee took Perry to Seaview Veterinary Centre, in Wallasey where x-rays showed no broken bones.
But Perry was underweight, so he was moved to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange wildlife centre, in Cheshire, where it has been nursed back to health.
Once it was fit to be returned to the wild the RSPCA gave the honour of releasing the bird to traffic warden Lee at the spot where he rescued it in Birkenhead.
Lee said: "Perry was a bit spooked at first when we took him off of the box, but then he looked over his shoulder as if to say ‘Hello, it’s you again!'. I'll swear he recognised me.
Added Lee: "To see a bird like this in the distance in the wild is one thing, but to get so close and have the honour of rescuing him is another.
"Then actually to return Perry to the wide where it belongs was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"Also, it was nice to show that us traffic wardens do not always deserve the bad reputation we have - some of us have a soft side!"
Andrew Smith, supervisor at Stapeley Grange, said: "It was fantastic that Lee did not get into a flap when he found this bird and had the calm mind to pick it up and bring it to us.
"It was in quite a bad state and would have struggled had he left it where he was."
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