Five Hen Harrier chicks have fledged in Cumbria and Lancashire, despite the unexplained disappearance of four breeding males – incidents the RSPB believes point to illegal killing.

The conservation charity said two males vanished from its Geltsdale reserve in Cumbria, while two more disappeared from the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire earlier this year. Staff and volunteers stepped in, feeding the paired females to ensure their chicks survived.

Chris Hind, a Geltsdale volunteer, said: "Watching these young birds fledge after weeks of intensive care is fantastic. But, as with all UK Hen Harriers, their future remains uncertain."