Elswood Camera Club members were "watching the birdie" on Thursday when eight owls paid a visit to a regular meeting.

The event at Maxwell Park Community Centre in Maxwell Road, Borehamwood, was an opportunity for around 25 snappers to study the nocturnal birds.

"They were excellent subjects," said club chairman Chris Anderson, "they did exactly what they were told. We had a very successful evening."

So popular was the idea that two new members turned up to photograph the visitors. Elswood is a small club of amateur photographers from the Elstree and Borehamwood areas -- and members will be comparing the results of Thursday's work when they next meet.

Mr Anderson has been a member since 1981, soon after the club formed, and he said it is always on the lookout for new recruits. Meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of each month at Maxwell Park Community centre from 8pm.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.