White-tailed eagles are the UK’s largest bird of prey. Image copyright: MIKE CRUTCH

Plans to reintroduce the UK’s largest bird of prey to the south coast of England have been given the go-ahead.

White-tailed eagles, which have a wingspan of up to 2.5m (8ft), were once widespread but were wiped out in the UK a century ago.

Natural England has issued a licence to the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation for a five-year reintroduction programme based on the Isle of Wight.

The charity said returning the birds to the island would be “incredible”.

A similar scheme in Scotland has already proved a success and there are now more than 130 breeding pairs of the birds.

The birds, also known as sea eagles, are currently deemed extinct in England.

While they become established, the birds will be closely monitored using satellite tracking devices and viewing areas could be set up to allow visitors to observe the birds.

The island was chosen as it offers an ideal habitat for the birds with its numerous potential nesting sites in woods and cliffs.

Breeding is not expected to start until at least 2024.

Conservationist Roy Dennis said the project would restore the eagles to their “ancestral nesting places”.