Animal enthusiasts turned out in numbers at the weekend to get up close and personal with a range of cute creatures.

Weston Mercury: Open day at Avon Owls in Banwell. Picture: MARK ATHERTONOpen day at Avon Owls in Banwell. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Avon Owls, in Banwell, hosted an open day on Sunday, with a sizeable crowd enjoying learning about the centre’s birds of prey.

The star attractions at the open day were a pair of new additions – spectacled owls named Mokka and Cream.

Expert volunteers were on hand to share their insight on the birds and how to handle them.

The charity, which rescues birds before re-homing or releasing them into the wild, is home to 40 creatures.

Weston Mercury: Open day at Avon Owls in Banwell. Picture: MARK ATHERTONOpen day at Avon Owls in Banwell. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

And the organisation has plans to expand, with a growing need to recruit more volunteers.

Avon Owls is also raising money to buy a new base as its current home, in Whitley Head, is too small for its needs.

For more on the charity, visit www.avonowls.org

Weston Mercury: Lee Jenkins with Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONLee Jenkins with Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Sammie meeting Migget the Little Owl at Avon Owls Open Day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONSammie meeting Migget the Little Owl at Avon Owls Open Day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Sammie meeting Migget the Little Owl at Avon Owls Open Day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONSammie meeting Migget the Little Owl at Avon Owls Open Day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Sidney the Buzzard with Christine LaCorte meeting members of the public at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONSidney the Buzzard with Christine LaCorte meeting members of the public at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONMojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Lee Jenkins with Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONLee Jenkins with Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Lee Jenkins with Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONLee Jenkins with Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Weston Mercury: Mojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTONMojo the Bengal Eagle Owl at Avon Owls open day. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)