JACKSON the vulture is still on the run in South Devon after travelling more than 400 miles from his Northamptonshire home.

Mike Langman, the bird recorder for Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society, said Jackson had been spotted at Langerstone Point on Tuesday night, half a mile from East Prawle, by South Brent bird-watcher Pat Mayer.

Jackson flew the coup from his home at Icarus Falconry, at Holdenby House, near Northampton, on July 4.

It has taken him three weeks to travel the 405 miles from his home town to the South Hams via Colchester, Somerset and Paignton.

And another bird watcher Mark Darlaston, from Buckfastleigh, snapped the black-feathered bird on top of an East Prawle farmer's roof earlier this week.

He said: "One of my friends lives in East Prawle and he had a call from a local farmer to say that he had a vulture on the roof and I went down and had a look at it.

"I have been to America before and as soon as I saw the red head I realised it was a Turkey Vulture and it was obvious it had escaped because it had jesses on it."

Falconer Steve Hopper, who runs South Hams Hawks and Owls from his South Brent home, has been trying to capture the bird, which feeds on carrion and has a 7ft wingspan.

He said nine-year-old Jackson was very intelligent and that his species were 'shy and nervous'.

He stressed Jackson posed no danger to the public and only fed on dead meat.

A farmer had thrown a lamb's carcass onto his roof to help keep Jackson's hunger at bay, he said.

"It is important that if you see Jackson to ensure that you leave it alone and report it to a falconer or the police," said Mr Hopper.