FUNNYMAN Bill Bailey could not resist grabbing his mobile phone and taking a 's-owl-fie' when he opened the new hospital at the International Centre for Birds of Prey (ICBP).

Bailey, a regular on shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Have I Got New For You, visited the centre in Newent, Gloucestershire on Saturday to open the wild bird hospital.

The 50-year-old comic took the picture of himself, known as a selfie, with great great grey owl Saliska.

Tweeting the picture to his 1.24million followers, he captioned it "Caught up with some old friends @ICBPNewent bird centre today" and it has since been retweeted over 450 times.

ICBO director Jemima Parry-Jones said: "It was a lovely day. We have a new hospital now for injured wild birds which will replace the horrible old room we've used for years and years.

"We managed to get a grant from the Forest of Dean Local Action Group (LAG) as well as donations from people who have brought injured birds to us."

After opening the new wild bird hospital, Bailey had a tour around the centre - stopping to take the selfie with Saliska - and visited the baby Steller's sea eagles.

Mrs Parry-Jones explained they had met Bailey before when he came to do some film work at the centre and they took the opportunity to ask if he fancied opening the new hospital.

She added: "He's a very nice man, very genuine and is very interested in wildlife."

For more information log on to about the centre www.icbp.org.