Thousands of viewers have tuned in to watch livestreams of peregrine falcons nesting in a British cathedral - as they gave birth to their first chicks of the season.

Cameras have been watching two peregrines nesting in Wakefield Cathedral, West Yorkshire, 24 hours a day since 2017.

Up to one in five viewers on its YouTube live feed in 2020 were based abroad, across more than 50 different countries, with around 150 people tuning in at a time.

More than 50,000 people have tuned in to see the pair’s four chicks since they hatched at the end of April.

Francis Hickenbottom, of the Wakefield Cathedral Peregrine Project, which runs live feeds of the birds and their daily activities, said they have now produced 25 chicks that have all survived.

The retired schoolteacher, 59, said: “They have built up quite a following. So many people get in touch to say how wonderful it is to follow the progress of the birds in lockdown.

“People are interested in the life cycle and want to see the family and these two peregrines raise their chicks.

“There are little dramas throughout the day that make people worry.

“People worry about the wind and message us to see if they are OK. I don’t worry because these birds are hard as nails.

“For them to hatch and rear 25 chicks is brilliant.”