A "beautiful" barn owl is missing after failing to return home to her concerned owner.

John Brown, from Epsom, has put out a plea for information for anyone who may spot the missing pet, named Florence, or Flo for short.

He is leading the search on behalf of his father-in-law, who owns the owl, which has not returned to her home in West Street, Epsom, since Wednesday, April 8.

Mr Brown said Florence was a "beautiful creature".

He said: "She is three years old and it is not uncommon for them to take flight and not come back at this age."

Mr Brown is calling for anyone who spots Flo to contact him by emailing spottedflorence@gmail.com or sending him a tweet on Twitter @brownbare.

Historically, the barn owl was Britain’s most common owl species but today only one farm in about 75 has a barn owl nest.

Protected species by law, people can be fined up to £5,000 for killing or injuring a barn owl or taking and destroying their eggs.