Giant aviary takes off

Residents settle into their new south coast home

Devon's newest tourist attraction, which aims to bring in more than 300,000 visitors each year, has opened to the public.

The £7m Living Coasts aviary in Torquay is part of the overall redevelopment of the harbourside.

The attraction, which is owned by Paignton Zoo, is a unique coastal conservation exhibit featuring seabirds, plants and mammals in landscaped surroundings beneath a vast net roof.

It has partly been funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and is expected to improve the local economy with thousands of extra tourists.

Two dozen species of bird are on show at the complex, which also houses fur seals and 40 black rats.

The giant aviary has called an eyesore by some critics

Most of the 400 birds, including sea ducks, terns, gulls and waders, have the freedom of 1.8m cubic feet of free flight space.

It has been created in a giant aviary made from fisherman's net and 60-feet-high masts.

Simon Tonge of Living Coasts, said: "We have tried to mimic the animals' habitats as near as possible, and they are choosing to spend their time in their right habitats.

"That's fortunate for us, but it also shows we understood what the animals needed and are very happy."

The project is part of an overall £21m regeneration project to breathe new life into the harbourside.

Some critics have said the nets are an eyesore and too close to the centre of town, but the local tourism industry says it will give a big lift to businesses in the harbour.