One of Britain’s biggest birds of prey has been nursed back to health in a Wolverhampton sanctuary after being hit by a car.

The common buzzard was taken to the city’s Wickid Pets by two members of the public in January.

The injured bird was found on a road in Essington by the good samaritans, who took it to exotic pets centre owner Jim Wick.

The bird, which has a wingspan of 3ft, suffered a sprained wing and bruising to its back. It has been named Spirit by one of the workers at the centre in Dunstall.

The bird has been recuperating with Mr Wick’s help.

Mr Wick, aged 40, has been keeping and caring for birds of prey for more than 20 years and opened Wickid Pets two years ago.

He said today: “He couldn’t fly when he came in, so he would have been stuck on the ground and would probably have been hit by another car or something would have eaten him.”

Mr Wick has spent the past month allowing the bird to heal by keeping it confined.

He added: “He has been kept in to rest, so he didn’t exert himself, and obviously he has been fed and watered.

“You have got to know what you are doing, and you have to be careful the bird doesn’t become imprinted and sees you as the food source.

“It is important they remain fearful of humans,” he added.

Mr Wick says he is now preparing to release the bird back into the wild next week.

He said: “It will be a great moment.”

Mr Wick said it was important that Spirit was released near to where it was found in order to avoid territorial disputes.

The species is fiercely territorial but when they mate they pair for life.

There are about 80,000 buzzards which live in the UK all year round.

The birds are typically 22in in length with a wingspan of up to 5ft.

They eat mainly small mammals including pheasant and rabbit as well as worms and insects.