Despite growing up without parents, a heron nicknamed 'Dude' has taken to the air after being taught how to fly.

Portreath,Cornwall. : After a lot of squawking and arm waving, Gary Zammit has taught a rescued grey heron to fly. Mr Zammit, 42, hand-reared the bird, which he calls Dude, after it fell from a nest. He fed it small fish and made a nest under a clothes horse. After a lot of encouragement, Mr Zammit has taught Dude, who has a 4ft wingspan, to fly. “I got really involved and running alongside flapping my arms like an idiot,” said Mr Zammit, who squawked as he ran. Dude, who now soars to 70ft, lives in the Gwel an Mor wildlife park in Portreath, Cornwall, which Mr Zammit manages.