RESIDENTS are being urged to help find out how many tawny owls live on Teesside.

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust launched the survey at the weekend to coincide with Tawny Owl Week.

People are being invited to join bird counters on night-time strolls into owl country all this week.

At the launch, held at the trust's headquarters, children were shown how to make kites, owl masks and nesting boxes.

Owls from the Kirkleatham Owl Centre also paid a visit to help launch the survey.

People can join an owl patrol at Wynyard Woodland Park, formerly known as the Castle Eden Walkway, near Thorpe Thewles, meeting at the Visitor Centre at 7pm tonight.

The Hartlepool Natural History Society is inviting people to joint an owl-spotting stroll around Ward Jackson Park, Summerhill and Burn Valley Gardens on Wednesday, from 7pm to 9pm. Anyone interested in taking part can meet at the Ward Jackson Park clock tower.

Also on Wednesday, there there will be a walk at Linthorpe Cemetery, Middlesbrough, meeting at the cemetery lodge on Burlam Road, at 7pm.

Hartlepool Borough Council ecologist Ian Bond will lead a similar walk along the Haswell Walkway, taking in Hart Village and Dalton Piercy, on Wednesday, from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Those wanting to take part can meet at the entrance to the Hart to Haswell walkway, just off Ocean Road. Free transport will be provided but booking is essential. To book, call (01429) 853325.