Eagle and microlight fly together

Flying is a hobby for one, a way of life for the other

A golden eagle with a 7ft wingspan has been trained to accompany his handler's microlight as he flies over Devon.

Sampson, who is four years old, spent six months locked in a cupboard by a thief who stole him from a zoo.

The bird broke his feathers trying to escape and was in a bad way when police rescued him and gave him to falconer Jonathan Marshall, 38, from Barnstaple.

He recovered and now flies with Mr Marshall, spiralling in thermal winds at 2,000ft and exciting onlookers.

It was four months before Sampson's wing feathers grew back to their full glory.

It really is a fantastic experience - and a privilege Jonathan Marshall

Then it took six months for Mr Marshall, who is also a pilot, to train the bird of prey to fly next to his hang-glider.

From there it was an easy progression for the eagle to follow the microlight.

"When we are up there in the clouds I talk to him and he calls back and circles around me," said Mr Marshall.

"He can stay hovering, apparently perfectly still, in the sky while I am flying at 20mph (32km/h) or so.

"Then he will swoop down on the thermals.

"It really is a fantastic experience - and a privilege."