Hundreds flock to see rare bird

The two-barred crossbill is usually seen in Russia, Sweden and Finland

Hundreds of bird lovers have flocked to North Yorkshire to see a rare visitor to the UK after it was spotted in a couple's garden.

A two-barred crossbill has taken up residence in the remote garden of Patricia and Robert Urquhart near the village of Chop Gate.

The species, which usually breeds in places like Russia, Sweden and Finland, is not normally seen in the UK.

The couple have asked for bird-spotters to give donations for a local school.

'Bit scruffy'

When small numbers of the birds occasionally appear in the UK they tend to be elusive and live in northern conifer woods, a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said.

The couple described the bird as looking "a bit scruffy" when it first appeared.

After identifying it they allowed the RSPB to spread the word of the bird's appearance.

Within hours, carloads of people had arrived at their house to see the bird.

A total of more than 500 bird lovers have so far visited the garden.