An animal charity is warning that one of the peregrines at Norwich Cathedral may not survive after it became injured while chasing prey.

The young female Peregrine YY was unable to fly effectively having fledged from its nest in the building's spire this summer – causing the Hawk and Owl Trust to remove the bird and send it for rehabilitation.

But during this treatment YY attempted to chase live prey and fractured a bone.

The bird was given time to heal and she had started flying again, however vets soon realised something was wrong.

A CT scan revealed YY has an 'un-united coracoid and scapula' – a problem with one of its shoulder blades.

In a statement the trust said: 'The results and advice we have been given indicates that this injury will now not heal without surgery.

'The chances of a positive outcome are less than 50pc.'

But trust staff have opted to put YY through surgery to give her the best chance of survival.

'A united decision has been taken that we owe YY a chance of recovery,' the trust said.

'If she gets through the surgery, which will happen later this week, then it will be a long process to get her flying again as she will need to have a rest and moult before any flying can be attempted.

'Therefore it could easily be late 2017 before she is released.'

The falcon has had a turbulent upbringing after its mother disappeared from the nest earlier this year, leaving the male responsible for feeding.

A second female peregrine then killed two of the four chicks in the nest, before YY and the other survivor – chick 41 – were taken into care by the trust.