Youngsters at a primary school were treated to the rare sight of a large eagle owl that has a wing span of six feet.

The children at Winsor Primary School in East Ham Manor Way in Beckton spent the afternoon learning about Sage who attracts a great deal of attention on account of her size. The children, in Year 1, have been learning about owls in the past year.

Sage is still considered a baby owl at 18 months, despite her size, and was accompanied by her owner Ian Berkwick, a former pupil of the Beckton school. He still has family members in Newham and is a regular visitor to the borough.

Ian is setting up an historical arboretum in Devon as a holiday destination in which people can interact with animals and wildlife.

Ian also uses Sage’s appearances across southern England to help him raise funds for a variety of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support.

Ian, who was born in Newham, was also one of the first children to be helped by the charity Community Links.