IT was, after all, the time for the mad Christmas shopping rush.
So where better than to spend time than in Huddersfield’s Queensgate Market?
That could have been the reason for this sparrowhawk to spend several days inside the Market Hall.
The bird of prey was first spotted on December 18 and was then seen each day up until Christmas Eve, when it finally managed to make its way out.
Market manager Chris Cotton said: “It was a stunning bird and the traders and shoppers followed it very keenly.
“We presume it must have got in through one of the doors as we rarely have windows open in winter, but then could not get out.
“We did open the windows in the hope he would fly out and finally he did.
“All we can think is that he realised he’d forgotten his last-minute Christmas shopping and decided to pop down to the market to get a few things.”
