CHILDREN got a rare opportunity to get a close look at birds of prey in East Oxford.

A barn owl, a common buzzard, a peregrine falcon and a kestrel were among the visitors to the Have a Hoot event at East Oxford Community Centre.

More than 400 people attended the Princes Street venue on Saturday to find out more about wildlife on their doorstep and how to protect it.

Children got to take part in craft activities, including clay modelling, making sock puppets, and looking at insects through magnifying glasses.

Imogen Hillman, nine, travelled from Tring in Hertfordshire and got a close look at Scrumpy the barn owl.

She said: “I loved it. The barn owl was beautiful and its feathers were really soft. The shape of its head looked like a heart and it was brilliant to get so close.”

She visited with her brother Daniel, six, and dad Adam.