An Ilkley man's desperate search for his remote controlled helicopter has reached a happy ending.

Richard Harrison is celebrating after retrieving his sophisticated, three and a half foot long model aircraft from a house between Addingham and Silsden.

The 49-year-old sales co-ordinator feared he had seen the last of his beloved Raptor 30 when he lost control of it during only its second flight, over playing fields near the River Wharfe, 12 days ago.

But after days of trawling through the countryside, posting up notices and contacting the police, radio and Ilkley Gazette for help, Mr Harrison was finally reunited with his helicopter last Thursday.

He said: "My wife had mentioned it to somebody who had seen it in the Gazette, and they told her someone walking down Main Street in Addingham had seen it fly overhead.

"Having a rough idea of its flight path I worked my way down from Addingham golf course into the village and back out again towards Silsden.

"I then came across two ladies on horseback and I just happened to mention it to them - and it turned out the helicopter had landed near their stables, where they had picked it up.

"It's slightly damaged but repairable, I thought it would be a lot worse. I'm very relieved and would like to say a big 'thank you' to everyone who helped."

A model aircraft enthusiast for many years, Mr Harrison painstakingly built the helicopter from a kit last year.

He lost radio control on the last flight after the radio battery on the aircraft had been shaken out, and watched in horror as his creation buzzed off in the direction of Addingham.

That is a problem he is determined not to let happen again.

He said: "Now it's back to carrying out the repairs and I'll be going through to Leeds to pick up some bits and pieces to fix the undercarriage, which bore the brunt of the crash.

"My wife has suggested I get a tracking device for it now so we won't have to go through this again, so I'm looking at that possibility, although they can be quite expensive.

"I'll be making sure there is no way the battery can fall out the next time I fly it, that's for sure!"