A REMARKABLE ornithological adventure which attracted thousands of twitchers to a North-East quarry has ended as suddenly as it began.

Experts believe the two vividly-coloured bee-eaters, which flew in the face of nature to become the first of their species to nest successfully so far north, have started their long migration home.

There to say farewell to the pair and the two chicks they reared at Bishop Middleham Quarry, near Sedgefield, County Durham, was a pensioner who saw Britain's only other bee-eater nest 47 years ago, in Sussex.

Darlington grandfather Ron White was lucky enough to catch a fleeting glimpse of one of the birds as they flew off yesterday.

He was one of the 15,000 birdwatchers from all over the world who have visited the quarry during the past five weeks.

Only a handful were present on Wednesday morning when the birds were seen joining a flock of swallows flying south.

They are probably heading for the warmer climes of Africa and may never return to the North-East, or even Britain.

Volunteers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Durham Wildlife Trust will scan the skies over Bishop Middleham during the next few days, in case they return.

The charities have mounted a 24-hour vigil on the bee-eaters' cliff-face nest since they were first spotted on June 3.

David Hirst, of the RSPB, said the viewing was one of the most successful events ever organised by the charity.

He said: "Perhaps they have now started on their next great adventure, the long migration journey towards Africa.

"Everyone who has been involved in this project will be sad to see them go, but also delighted at a successful outcome to three months of hard work, exhilaration and anxiety."

The RSPB is asking that people contact the charity on 01191-212 6100 if they get a sighting of the birds