A GIANT owl and its chicks have made their nest at the Blunsdon House Hotel.

The figure of the bird has been carved on top of the giant redwood tree, which was hit by lightning on July 3.

The bolt of lightning sheared the tree in half, and fire officers and the council had been deciding how to make it safe when the top half fell onto the roof of the hotel.

But Jane Day, sales and marketing manager at the hotel, said a positive had come from a negative.

"We were told the tree would not grow again by the council's tree surgeon," she said.

"So we had the tree cut down to 40ft and at the top we have had the giant owl carved.

"And in a tree behind we have had her chicks and a nest carved.

"It is the first thing you see as you come up the hotel's drive and it is outstanding."

The work was carried out by chainsaw woodcarver Dave Bytheway.

The tree was surrounded by scaffolding and Dave took just over three days to complete the two creations.

"The idea came from the owners, the Clifford family," said Jane.

"The aim was to make something constructive out of something that was destructive.

"Dave used a chainsaw for most of the work, plus some smaller tools.

"It makes a lovely feature and it is nice to see something so positive come out of the situation."

As well as causing the tree to fall, smashing a panel on the hotel's entrance, the lightning strike also put the phone system out of action.

The new addition to the hotel is already going down well with guests.

"We've had a lot of good reaction to it," Jane said.

"People seem fascinated by it - everyone seems to like the owl and the chicks.

"We are all very pleased with it."