CHILDREN at a special needs centre have been left distraught after their cherished pet cockatoo vanished.

Plucky the cockatoo has lived at Lord's House Farm Special Needs Education Centre in Rishton for the last year and become a firm favourite with staff and youngsters.

But he took flight on Wednesday when everyone was in a meeting.

Lord's House Farm is a charity organisation which helps children and adults with special needs through therapy programmes, primarily involving animals, to aid sensory and social development and Plucky is considered important as children respond to him.

The farm was established in 1993 as a riding therapy centre aimed at physiotherapy and physical exercise for people with special needs.

Plucky has been owned by Ivor Roberts, animal care manager at the centre, for a few years and although he sleeps in a cage he is given free range during the day.

Ivor said: "He hates being in a cage and had plucked himself bare through frustration before I got him -- he looked like an oven roasted chicken -- so if someone has taken him home he will hate it. He really won't be happy in a cage.

"Normally he flies out every day and has never left the grounds before but we think he got lonely while we were all in the meeting and saw someone walking by so followed them home."

Plucky's pal Egg is also missing the mischief maker who is renowned at the Wilpshire Road centre for swooping down on people to steal their sandwiches, buttons from their clothes and anything else he can get his beak into to.

The centre, which also has links with special schools in the county, is anxious to have him back so if anyone has seen him or knows where he is they should call 01254 877400.