The fourth and final peregrine chick of 2014 has hatched on the spire at Norwich Cathedral this afternoon.

The first chick hatched at the Hawk and Owl Trust's urban peregrine watch point on Saturday night, with the second and third following less than 24 hours later.

The fourth and final egg hatched today at about 11am when the female bird was seen nibbling large pieces of eggshell. However, it took several hours before a visual confirmation of the health of the chick could be established by Hawk and Owl Trust Staff as the female was covering the chicks.

Leanne Thomas, Education Manager for the Hawk and Owl Trust, said: 'We are absolutely delighted to confirm that the fourth chick has hatched and as far as we can see looks fit and well. The parents are very attentive and we now have five weeks of watching these stunning wild creatures grow until they are ready to fledge.'

The peregrine falcons make the cathedral their home during the summer.

Nesting on the cathedral's 250ft spire, the pair successfully fledged chicks in 2012 and 2013.

The birds first appeared at the cathedral in 2009 when a male peregrine took up residence on the spire.

A female soon followed and the Hawk and Owl Trust, working in partnership with Norwich Cathedral, and with volunteer help from Norwich firefighters during their time off, set up a nesting platform, along with two webcams, in February 2011.

The Hawk and Owl Trust was founded in 1969 to help save the peregrine. The national charity now works for the conservation and appreciation of all wild birds of prey and their habitats – both on its nature reserves and in partnership with others.