POLLY'S "polly" has landed back home safe and well after flying off on a three-week adventure.

Snowy, an African grey parrot, was the "squawk" of the town when he went missing from his home in Heyhead Street, Brierfield, on July 10.

Owner Neil Pollard, 25, known as "Polly" to his friends, feared the worst when Snowy flew the coop after being let out for some fresh air.

But Neil, who works at, where else, Macaw (Soft Drinks), Nelson, was reunited with his feathered friend after Snowy turned up near Bolton.

Snowy, one of whose favourite phrases is "I'll see you in a bit", ruffled some feathers when he was spotted by a family under their parked car in Belmont Village. Eventually they managed to coax him out and looked after the dead beat bird until RSPCA officers arrived. They were quickly on the telephone to Neil's mum Jean with the good news.

"I couldn't believe it at first," she said. "He'd been away for three weeks and we were getting more and more worried.

"He was absolutely tired out but he's fit and well and that's what matters.

"He's lost a bit of weight but apart from that he's fine. It doesn't look like he's been pecked by any other birds and he's managed to survive.

"All he's done since he got back home is eat and sleep. It's marvellous to have him back. He's been a very lucky parrot."

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