A GIANT steel owl sculpture modelled on Harry Potter's owl, Hedwig, may get a permanent home in York, thank to the Friends of Rowntree Park.

The snowy owl, which boasts a 16ft 6in wingspan, was made by Steve Blaylock for Harrogate Odeon Cinema to celebrate the launch of Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, last November.

But because the cinema is a Grade II listed building, the 18-stone bird was denied a roost there, and for the past three months it has been on temporary display at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate.

Now the Friends of Rowntree Park organisation has applied to Fishergate, Bishophill and Knavesmire ward committees for money to buy the owl, so it can be given a permanent home in York.

The sculpture, which helped launch the Royal Mail's new bird of prey stamp collection in Harrogate, would normally cost £8,500, but Mr Blaylock is only charging the group £5,000 because he wants it to go to a good home.

Alison Sinclair, chairwoman of the Friends of Rowntree Park, said: "I think the owl is wonderful and the park would provide a perfect home for him. We just hope we get enough money to buy him. Years ago people who lived near the park used to hear owls hooting, but we haven't heard them for a long time now, and so we want the steel owl to take their place."

Mr Blaylock said: "I will be really pleased if the sculpture goes to York, because it would be in a public place, where hundreds and hundreds of people could see it, and that is exactly what it was made for."

The Friends of Rowntree Park will find out if their grant applications have been successful next month.

Updated: 09:46 Monday, January 13, 2003