FIREFIGHTERS rescued a bird of prey which had become stuck inside Keighley bus station this morning.

Crew commander Neal Andrews-Parry climbed a ladder to retrieve the panicking sparrowhawk and hand it over to the RSPCA.

The Keighley fire crew was called after staff spent more than two hours trying to entice the younger down after it became trapped near the ceiling.

And RSPCA inspector was also called, but needed the expertise of firefighters because the bird was high above the station concourse.

Mr Andrews-Parry said: “We acted under advice from the RSPCA. I went up the ladder with eye protection and leather gloves and was given a blanket.

“The bird jumped around a bit when I first went up the ladder, but it calmed down and I threw the blanket over it.

“It was only a young bird, and must have tried to fly out of the bus station that way.

“It was a nice thing to do. People think we only rescue cats stuck in trees. The RSPCA took the bird away to give it the once-over.”