A PIGEON found sheltering on a porch in Powys has been reunited with its owner after a good Samaritan drove it to him – almost 250 miles away in Scotland.

James Hutton-Motherwell, who says he loves to help people, certainly went the extra mile for the pigeon’s owner after he was tagged in a Facebook post by a work colleague.

The female racing pigeon came to the attention of social media last week after a post about her appeared on the Rhayader Solutions Facebook page, on Wednesday, May 15.

Amelia Jones took the pigeon in when it appeared to have taken shelter on her porch after being chased by two male pigeons.

The information provided by a tag revealed she came from Scotland and Amelia tried releasing her, only for the bird to return to the sanctuary of the porch – she seemed to be terrified of her two would-be male suitors, or perhaps circling red kites.

County Times: The racing pigeon is pictured back on Scottish soil, with its owner, thanks to kind-hearted James Hutton-Motherwell, who took this picture. Credit James Hutton-Motherwell The racing pigeon is pictured back on Scottish soil, with its owner, thanks to kind-hearted James Hutton-Motherwell, who took this picture. Credit James Hutton-Motherwell (Image: James Hutton-Motherwell)

After discovering the owner lived in Scotland, the plan was to find a courier service to take her back home – until James swooped in and to the rescue.

“Basically, a guy from work tagged me in the post as I have family in Scotland,” said James, 35.

“So, luckily, I was going up to see them (on) the Friday (May 17). I messaged Amelia saying I was going up and happy to help.

“We arranged (for) me to take it up after speaking with the owner.”

James, a Scotsman who has called Llandrindod Wells home for the last seven years after marrying a local girl, picked the pigeon up on Friday morning and headed to the rendezvous point – a slip road off the A74 at Ecclefechan, close to where the pigeon’s owner lives, in Lockerbie, about 10 miles into Scotland.

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But it wasn't all plain sailing.

“On the way up the box fell over and it got out and was flapping around so I had to pull over and sort it all out on the hard shoulder,” said James.

“He just flapped about on the back seat. When I got to the guy he said it had been hawked so I’m not sure if that means it’s unable to fly.

“I carried on and dropped it off on the slip road of the A74 and the guy couldn’t thank us enough.”

James, who works for Powys County Council’s waste and recycling department in Rhayader, was heading up to visit family who live near Edinburgh.

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And the unlikely hero said he had no qualms reuniting the bird with her owner.

“As I was passing through I thought I would save the guy getting a courier,” he added modestly.

“My trouble is I love to help people. It just made sense to me, one simple thing to do.

“I didn’t have to go out my way much. I think it only made me 20-30 minutes later than normal, from picking up and dropping off.”