Owl has a hoot on bicycle rides

The other animals watch Treacle as he rides on the bike

An owl at a wildlife centre has been taught to ride on the handlebars of his keeper's bicycle.

Six-year-old tawny owl Treacle was hand-reared from a chick by keeper Jenny Smith at Gentleshaw Wildlife Centre in Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

Ms Smith thought his laid-back attitude would make him an ideal bike passenger and let him hop on the handlebars.

The centre keeps a variety of animals which were either found injured in the wild or were abandoned pets.

It includes several exotic animals handed over by their previous owners, such as monkeys and racoons.

We've got a monkey that likes scribbling and a hawk that only likes women... but Treacle's our only bike rider Jenny Smith, keeper

Ms Smith said many of the other animals watch while Treacle rides around the centre on the bike.

Ms Smith, 26, said: "I think Treacle likes being on the bike because owls are notoriously quite lazy.

"So this way he doesn't have to do any exercise and he can sit around and look at his surrounding area to see what's going on.

"We do fly him and he does enjoy flying. I suppose the bike feels like he's flying but without putting in the effort.

"We've got a monkey that likes scribbling and a hawk that only likes women, so many of the animals have got funny little traits, but Treacle's our only bike rider."