Up to 10,000 homing pigeons have mysteriously vanished while racing across the UK.
Pigeon
It is believed that solar winds disorientated the birds when they were flying last weekend and ruined their homing instincts.
The majority of the pigeons were travelling from Peterborough to the North East but between 5,000 and 10,000 are thought to be missing.
Ian Evans, chief executive of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, said: "There was certainly something happening because birds from all over the country disappeared and we've had many reports of strays since.
"We are obviously hoping that the majority of these birds find their way home given time."
The weather phenomenon is believed to have caused similar problems with the birds in Belgium and Portugal, with pigeon fancier Richard Sayers describing the incident as one of the "worst racing days in our history".