FEARS have been voiced for the safety of a bird of prey believed to have been caught in strong winds and blown seven miles to Worcester.

Nick Ross, worried owner of the Harris hawk, said Jess had been missing from her Malvern home since last Friday when she broke away from the line attached to her perch.

"I'm worried because she is still attached to her jesses and swivel," he said.

"If the metal plate gets caught in a tree she will fall and be stranded upside down.

"The chances of finding her alive are small, but I'm appealing for people in the Malvern and Worcester areas to look out for her."

The three-year-old bird, which Mr Ross said was popular with Malvern children, was secured to her perch to keep her safe while being trained to return to the fist.

She had a bell on one of her legs, a blue disc inscribed with ''reward'' and his telephone number. She had also been micro-chipped to deter people from selling her on.

But Mr Ross, of Atyeo Close, said he feared Jess, who was last seen by one of his friends outside Safeway in Malvern Link on Saturday, had been caught up in the weekend's strong winds.

"She could have been carried into Worcester in 10 minutes and wouldn't be strong enough to fly back," he said.

"She could also be stranded in any of the hundreds of trees you see when you look down from the Malvern Hills."

Anyone with has seen Jess, who has a brown body with rust-coloured wings and a black tail with a white tip, should call Mr Ross on 01684 569887.