A Keighley school found itself caring for a very unexpected long-distance visitor.

An exhausted racing pigeon was discovered in the grounds of Holy Family Catholic School.

School house keeper Nigel Toothill, who found the bird outside the dining hall, said: “It wasn’t hurt - but it was really tired. It’s possible that it had just lost its bearings.

“We fed it with some rice and bird food, gave it some water and let it go. But he was back again in the same place another morning!”

He said the identification ring round one of its legs indicated that the bird was a racing pigeon originally from Scotland.

After the pigeon returned to Holy Family, Mr Toothill said he placed the bird in a small wooded area behind the school, where it would be safe.

He said the bird had finally departed, and was now hopefully on its way home.