A beloved family pet has been reunited with its owners after escaping from the family home more than three weeks ago.

Rodney, a Mealy Amazon parrot, escaped a few weeks ago through the back door of his home in Chelmer Road, Braintree.

But he was finally caught by his owner Roni Westbrook and a bird of prey specialist on Friday after several attempts to lure him from his favourite tree on the corner of Stubbs Lane and Hunter Drive near to his home.

Mrs Westbrook uses Rodney as a form of therapy for her 18-year-old daughter Katie, who has special needs and rarely speaks.

She said: "It's wonderful that he's home. I always knew he was in the area as I spotted him several times and lots of members of the public and the police and the RSPCA rang me."

Published Tuesday August 13, 2002

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