CORFE Castle now boasts its own flock of resident ravens.

Castle community learning officer Pam White said: "Ravens have been at Corfe since the medieval period and feature on the castle's seal.

"In 1638 when they left, locals thought it was a bad omen and eight years later the castle was destroyed by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War."

The ravens first returned in 2003, but didn't nest until earlier this year when three fledglings were born.

Pam said they have set up nest in the Keep, which is undergoing sensitive restructuring work using the £250,000 grant from SITA's landfill community challenge fund.

While the ravens now feed off-site during the day, they return to roost each evening.

Pam said: "The family of five enormous birds circling overhead as they make for their roost has become a regular part of our Twilight Tours and, unlike the Tower of London, we don't have to clip their wings to keep them here!"

Twilight Tours are held each Tuesday evening at 7pm and will continue until the end of October.