BUDEHAVEN’S librarian is missing a member of her paperweight owl family, and is encouraging students, staff and members of the community alike to help her find her baby owl.

Linda Jones is the librarian at Budehaven Community School, and for years has owned a set of three silver-looking owls, originally designed as book-ends and paperweights. To Linda’s surprise, the baby owl of the family suddenly disappeared.

Linda put it down to students having a bit too much fun. She said: “Kids mess about, and things often go missing or get moved around the school near the end of term, but things usually find their way back.”

On Monday, July 11, Linda sent an email around to members of staff at the school to keep a look out for her baby owl. The same day, she was approached by a very upset colleague, who had taken her children to Killerton Park to play.

There, they spotted the baby owl in a tree and the children played with it, not thinking anything of it. Afterwards, they left the owl in the park to be used by other children, having no idea that the owl belonged to Linda.

Linda, who has had the owl family for around 12 years, added: “It’s personal property, and I think it started off as a prank. They are very unique, in a way. I’ve never been able to find another set. You just can’t get them now.”

Since the disappearance of her baby owl, Linda has been presented with a stuffed sock owl to take its place, but said that ‘his parents are missing him’.

Linda added: “Please help him get home to his parents. Please return my owl if you’ve found it, or please return it to the school.”