THEY are among the sky's most voracious and elegant predators and have not been seen above the Hampshire Downs in more than 180 years.

However, all that is about to change as Red Kites soar over the county again later this week with the culmination of a 25-year dream by the founder of one of the county's best-known visitor attractions.

Sadly Reg Smith, founder of The Hawk Conservancy near Andover, did not live to see his dream of reintroducing Red Kite into the Hampshire skies take off. Eight years on Reg's son Ashley, who took over the reigns of the predatory bird park, is about to see his father's dream come true.

The park is one of the few places in the world to establish a successful breeding programme in captivity and today four of the rare birds, which can have wingspans of more than 2m, were due to be released back into the wild.

The exact location of the birds will also be known at all times. Radio tracking equipment will be attached to each one so the team can monitor their progress at all times.

Ashley Smith, said: "It's probably the first time that Red Kites will have resided in this part of Hampshire, the Cholderton Valley, in 180 years.

"Today we will be releasing the youngsters into a nest site in Reg's meadow - the wildflower meadow planted in memory of my father - so at last we are achieving his long-held ambition.

"It's great that local landowners are co-operating and seem to be really pleased to see these birds returning. Let's just pray they do well in the wild."