A CHEEKY owl caused a flap by taking off with the rings during a wedding - and "refused to come back for seven hours".

Bradford artist Callum Russel, 29, was at a convention at Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, while a wedding was taking place on July 20.

He noticed the bird - which was supposed to act as ring bearer and deliver the wedding bands to the couple - fly off.

Callum RusselCallum Russel (Image: SWNS)

The owl disappeared to the top of the abbey and perched in a window sill - much to the dismay of the wedding party and their 50 guests.

Its professional handler desperately tried to lure the bird down with a piece of chicken - to no avail.

Callum - who was attending an art convention at the abbey - captured the drama on camera.

The wedding continued with the other birds on display and the rogue owl is said to have returned at 8pm - some seven hours after it flew off at around 1pm.

Callum said: "It seemed like they had been ready to do the rings but the owl went away.

"He flew on top of the abbey and stayed there all night.

"I had a stand at the other side of the museum.

"It was my lunchtime and I decided to mooch around and then I saw the owl at the top of the abbey which was getting a lot of attention.

"There was a pro handler trying to lure him down with a piece of chicken.

"It was a mix between devastation for them (the couple) but I was in hysterics and the handler was so professional about the whole thing.

"I left at 5pm and I spoke to the handler who deals with the birds.

"The owl did come back with the rings in the end."

Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery with more than 850 years of history.

Founded in 1152 by a community of Cistercian monks from Fountains Abbey, it is set in a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. 

It gained its wealth from keeping sheep for the wool trade.

Monastic life for the 31 monks came to an end in November 1540 when the abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII as part of the dissolution of the monasteries.

The picturesque ruins have been drawn and painted by artists such as JMW Turner, Thomas Girtin and John Sell Cotman.