THE project to reintroduce great bustards to Salisbury Plain after an absence of 175 years has suffered a setback because of missing paperwork.

The Salisbury-based Great Bustard Group was poised to bring 30 chicks back to Britain from the Saratov region of Russia.

However, disaster struck last week. The birds were unable to leave the country because the Russian government had not completed the vital Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) agreement, which permits the transport and trade of endangered species.

"It was very frustrating," said chairman David Waters.

"We were ready to go, but we didn't have the licence. We needed a signature from the Russian assistant minister, but following their recent elections, one hadn't even been appointed.

"This meant other licences were missing, too."

Eventually, the team returned to Britain empty-handed, although they intend to fly back to Russia in the coming week to collect the chicks.

Environment minister Ben Bradshaw has spoken with his counterparts in Moscow to speed up the application.

The team is optimistic that the bustards will arrive in Britain in early July.

"It's really annoying, but it is just a delay," added Mr Waters, a former police officer who has invested £40,000 in the project.

"The chicks are doing exactly as we want them to.

"It has not been easy, but then, it's never been done before."

"If it was that simple, I'm sure someone would already have done it."

Weighing up to 15kg, the great bustard is the world's largest flying bird.

It became extinct in Britain in the 1830s after it was hunted for its meat.

The species survives in Spain, parts of northern Europe and Russia.

The team is using revolutionary techniques to ensure its success on Salisbury Plain.

Local sculptor Simon Gudgeon has produced two hand puppets of a bustard head, so that the chicks identify with their own species, rather than humans, and scientists will dress in white sheets when they approach the young birds.

The team will also teach the chicks to stay away from their predators, which include foxes, by squirting them with water pistols if they get too close.

When the birds finally arrive in England, they will spend 28 days in quarantine, before moving to a large pen with soft sides.

As they grow in confidence, the bustards will be encouraged to venture on to Salisbury Plain.

The team hopes their population will be self-sufficient within five years.