A FALCONER has stepped in to give young George Dickie a birthday surprise and earn himself a feather in his cap at the same time.

Five-year-old George was left desolate after his collection of bird feathers, which he has been picking up on walks since he was three years old, was stolen while he and his family were moving home.

He had between 100 and 150 feathers from all sorts of birds when the whole lot were pinched from the family garden shed.

So his elder sister Kelly decided to ask for help in getting little George's collection going again in time for his sixth birthday.

And Geoff Pearson, the head falconer at the Woodlands Family Theme Park near Dartmouth, was only too glad to step in to help.

He sent George 34 feathers from birds of prey at the Woodlands falconry centre, all labelled.

Geoff said: "The smallest is from the European Kestrel, the biggest, quite a rare one, is from the Russian Siberian Eagle while the prettiest is from the Great Grey Owl which lives in Lapland. I am always keen to encourage young people's interest in birds of prey and all at Woodlands wish George a very happy birthday."

George lives with mum Debbie, dad Steve and sisters Kelly and Kim in Calshot in the New Forest.

Kelly, 19, explained her little brother had a whole range of bird feather he had been picking up on his walks through the New Forest. She said he was overjoyed at the presentation from Geoff.