Care home residents were given a treat when some feathered friends stopped by for a visit.

Ten birds, including a barn owl, snowy owl and European owl, dropped in at the Chadwell House Residential Care Home, of Chadwell Heath, to perform a flight display.

Residents were given the opportunity to hold the birds and they also listened to a talk by Keith Cole from Owls R Us, a group which displays the birds and attempts to encourage their breeding.

Joyce Sims, 92, said: “It was wonderful to have the owls visit, they are amazing to look at and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and being able to stroke them.”

Nasreen Akhtar, team leader at Chadwell House, added: “Our residents absolutely loved their visit from the owls. It was a wonderful experience and many of them were overwhelmed to have the opportunity to stroke and hold these creatures.

“The birds are so beautiful to look at and it was lovely having them here with us.”