It is a mark of recognition usually reserved for people and places which have significantly shaped Britain's history.

But last week a homing pigeon that delivered top secret messages during WWII became the first animal to be given a blue plaque to commemorate where she lived.

The prized pigeon called Mary lived in West Street in Exeter, Devon, where the blue plaque was placed on Saturday.

Mary was dropped behind enemy lines where she was repeatedly attacked by gunfire. She then delivered secret messages across the English Channel to her home. Her time with the National Pigeon Service saw Mary awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945 - an honour bestowed on hard-working animals during wartime.

Mary escaped her loft in Exeter uninjured despite being bombed on three occasions. And the tenacious pigeon was attacked by German hawks stationed in Pas-de-Calais but escaped - returning home with wounds to her neck and right breast.

She recovered and was put back in service two months later. Mary returned with the tip of one wing shot off and three pellets were removed from her body on a second flight - but recovered and returned to service.

During her final trip, her neck muscles were damaged by shrapnel. Mary's owner, pigeon breeder Cecil "Charlie" Brewer - made her a leather collar and took her out of service.