Bald Eagle Helga found her way home last night after being missing for two days.

The 17-year-old black and brown bird went missing from Groombridge Raptor Centre on Tuesday afternoon after taking part in a show.

Eddie Hare, who has been running the sanctuary with wife, Veronica, for nearly 40 years, had appealed for help in tracing Helga.

A number of sightings were reported, and the bird of prey was spotted as far as Bluewater shopping centre - around 23 miles away, as the eagle flies.

Helga was taking part in an afternoon demo, as she usually would, at around 3.30pm on Tuesday afternoon, but rather than returning she simply soared away.

Eddie and Veronica Hare, who run the centre, were relieved to have the bird home after the two-day hunt had them trekking over the county.

Veronica said: "We had an unbelievable amount of support, I was quite surprised, my phone has hardly stopped ringing.

"She was last spotted in a paddock in Lunton Green, roughly two miles from here, she must have recognised us calling her, we threw some food out and she just swooped down to the ground in front of us.

"She's Eddie's bird so she just flew up onto his glove as he put some more food on it. We're so happy she's home."

Helga returned at around 7.30pm on Thursday evening, the centre then took to Facebook to say she was back home.

The message stated: "Helga is home...more information will be uploaded tomorrow.

"Just briefly - Thank you to EVERYONE who has helped us in our search for our beautiful Helga. Names and details tomorrow. For now, it's food, drink then sleep!