Footballers find Lucy the missing parrot

6:30pm Sunday 11th February 2007

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LUCY the parrot has a lot to answer for.

The cute little six-month old African Grey caused a flutter when she escaped from her owner John Weller in Groundwell, north Swindon, on Saturday evening.

She wasn't seen again until she caught the attention of footballers playing on a pitch in Abbey Meads yesterday morning.

"At first we thought it was a low-flying pigeon," said five-a-side player Roy Brooking.

"But then we saw the bright red feathers and realised that it was a bit more than that.

"It seemed to be attracted to people and was hopping around the fence before it landed on the pitch. It struck me that it was clearly someone's pet and was probably knackered."

The team thought about how to deal with the bird and decided to cover it in a T-shirt, before it was put into Roy's empty sports bag.

"She seemed quite content in there, and I took her home and called the police. They told me that one had been reported missing. I called the owners and they were here very quickly, because they were out looking for her.

"The relief on their faces was a picture, they were so glad to see it, and I was just happy to help."

Mr Weller said: "We are chuffed to bits to get Lucy back. We were out looking for her all night on Saturday and all of Sunday, getting caked in mud and panicking if she would be okay. But she made it through the night and it was a happy ending."