Nature lovers in Worcester are being urged to help barn owls get into the housing market.

Due to a boom in the number of young hatched this year, there is increased pressure on the available nesting places.

The Hawk and Owl Trust wants people to adopt a nesting box for themselves or as a gift for another owl lover and support the trust's conservation, research and education work.

This year, barn owls in many parts of the country began nesting earlier than usual, reared above average numbers of young and even nested for a second time. This was probably due to the continuing efforts by conservationists to improve habitats, a mild winter and a plentiful supply of barn owl prey. Trust director Linda Bennett said: "With so many young owls looking for suitable breeding sites next year, the nestboxes that we put up to counter the increasing loss of traditional sites are likely to be in huge demand.

"Already about four in every five barn owls uses nextboxes as old hollow trees are felled and barns and other farm buildings are converted for housing."

The heavy wooden nestboxes, about the size of an old tea chest, are monitored so that news can be sent to adopters about birds have nested, how many eggs were laid and young reared.

Adopting costs £15 a year and people can sign up by calling 0870 9903889 or logging on to www.hawk andowl.org