NORTHERN Echo, the racing pigeon, is in great shape for its first race under its new title.

However, one of the blue hen's initial outings proved less than encouraging when it opted to perch in a tree for several hours rather than flying.

Its trainer, Peter Matthews, from Cockfield, County Durham, who has allowed The Northern Echo to adopt the bird, said: "At first, I was simply letting her out for as long as she wanted to fly, but this time she went into the trees and didn't come back for quite some time.

"She must have been a bit temperamental that day and probably overweight, but she has a different attitude now."

Northern Echo is due to race from Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, this Saturday.

Coal merchant Mr Matthews, 35, said Northern Echo, which was registered as 2001CF1180 at birth, has completed two good training flights or "chucks", the most recent an eight-mile trip home from Piercebridge, near Darlington.

The year-old bird is also in great shape due to its feeding regime, one of the most important aspects of a successful racing pigeon.

Overhead wires and sparrow hawks pose the two most serious threats to Northern Echo during the race.

Mr Matthews, who races in the West Durham Amalgamation, said: "She is shaping up well - unless disaster happens. She should be quick enough to avoid the sparrow hawks.

"Over a pigeon's life, there won't be many which don't hit electric wires. It just depends where on the body they are hit as to how serious it is.

"But it is amazing how quickly they heal. Hopefully, she will be one of the lucky ones and can avoid injury."

Mr Matthews, who bought Northern Echo from a breeder in Holland, is to provide regular updates on the highs and lows of its season, to give readers an insight into the world of pigeon racing.