An owl caused a flap by taking off with the rings during a wedding - and 'refused to come back for SEVEN hours'.

Callum Russel, 29, was at an artist convention at Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, West Yorkshire, while a wedding was taking place on July 20.

He noticed the bird - which was supposed to act as ring bearer and deliver the wedding bands to the couple - fly off.

The owl disappeared to the top of the Abbey and perched in a window sill - much to the dismay of the wedding party and their 50 guests.

Its professional handler desperately tried to lure the bird down with a piece of chicken - to no avail.

Callum - who was attending an art convention at the Abbey - captured the drama on camera.

The wedding continued with the other birds on display and the rogue owl is said to have returned at 8pm - some seven hours after it flew off at around 1pm.