A Lochcarron resident hopes his new falconry business will be a soaring success.

Jonathan Hodges set up Wester Ross Raptors with help from Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE) to provide shows and educational talks for people interested in finding out more about his feathered friends.

The stars of the show - a tawny owl, a barn owl and a peregrine falcon - made their debut at the Lochcarron Games last Saturday and they proved to be a popular attraction with the visitors.

Mr Hodges said:  "There was a lot of interest in the birds and it was great that people enjoyed learning more about them and seeing them at close quarters.  Enabling people to interact with captive-bred birds of prey really helps to get over the message that the conservation of wild birds is very important.

"In the future I hope to build up a larger collection of native falcons and raptors which I will use for flying demonstrations, photography, falconry courses and education programmes in Wester Ross and further afield.  I'm very grateful for the start-up assistance I received from RACE and HIE.  Their advice and financial support has meant that I've been able to get the business off to a really good start."

Mr Hodges runs the WildAid charity and a wildlife rescue centre in Lochcarron with his wife.  He has been a keen falconer for over 20 years and turned to his local enterprise company for advice on how to set up his own falconry.

Ross and Cromarty Enterprise contributed towards the start-up costs with a modest grant and awarded him HIE Starts assistance - a European-funded initiative to provide new businesses with a regular income and advice during the first few months of trading.

RACE's development manager Kenny MacKay said:  "Tourism is a key economic activity in our area and we are keen to support businesses like Wester Ross Raptors that will enhance the range of attractions on offer to visitors and residents. 

"We realise that starting up in business can be a daunting prospect, but hope that our HIE Starts programme helps to offset these concerns and encourages even more people to take the plunge and start their own company."