This little feathered friend turned heads up at Ainley Top.

The pint-sized tawny owl had to be rescued from the middle of Grimescar Road by passing motorists after its beak became glued shut with road tar.

Huddersfield Police posted on their Facebook page about the incident, saying the owl had found itself in a pickle in the tar from the recent roadworks on Saturday.

The feathered creature was taken to Meltham Wildlife Rescue by officers where he is now being nursed back to health.

Kath Heaney, from the rescue, said: “He was brought in appearing to have a bit of tar around his beak.

Tawny owl rescued by police at Ainley Top

“Obviously he couldn’t eat or clean himself so was in quite a state.

“Amazingly, he didn’t have any other injuries - it looks like he had a lot of near misses from the passing vehicles.”

The owl was put on a ten-day course of antibiotics and will be released back into the wild when they are finished.

Police said: “Thanks to the facilities at Meltham Wildlife Rescue, the owl received the appropriate care and nourishment - and when back to full health will be released back to the correct area.”

Tawny owl rescued by police at Ainley Top