A pelican which has escaped from a nearby zoo has sparked a huge coast wide hunt for its safe return.
Officials say the young pelican, which has yet to have its wings clipped, could make its way to the Southport coastline in the next few days.
Zoo staff from Blackpool say the 14-week-old pelican was scared off by a flock of seagulls at around 2pm on 4 August.
It tried to fly onto the roof of the flamingo house and it was taken on a gust of wind.
At that age, the pelican has just grown its adult feathers so had not had its wings clipped yet.
A spokesman for Blackpool Zoo said: “Keepers followed it out of the zoo and lost sight of it at 4pm, when it was headed in the direction of the South Shore area of the resort.
“It has been seen in the area since and keepers are following up all sightings.”
The zoo says searches are continuing from dawn to dusk every day and it remains hopeful that it will be found.
It added: “Pelicans are beautiful, docile creatures and there is no threat to the public. We would ask that people do not approach the bird if they see it as it they may scare it.
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