SCRUFFY the soccer-mad parrot is missing - and his owner is convinced a gang of thieves is responsible.

Feathered fan Scruffy, who's let the side down by backing Blackburn Rovers, was snatched from his perch in Hendon Road, Nelson, on Saturday.

Carol Uprichard returned from helping to decorate her grandson's flat to find her home had been raided.

She has searched every pet shop and vet's surgery in a vain attempt to find Scruffy.

Carol said: "It's heartbreaking. He was one of the family. When we bought him he was in a poor state. He hadn't been looked after properly, both wings had been clipped and he was nearly bald.

"He doesn't fly, he just toddles around, and he never stops talking.

"We think his previous owners were Blackburn Rovers fans because he likes to cheer them on - but we tell him to be quiet."

As well as taking two-year-old African Grey Scruffy the thieves had taken her mother's gold watch, rings, a computer games console bought for a Christmas present and £260 in cash.

Said Carol: " I want to warn people that this gang is operating. They are working the whole area.

Mrs Uprichard is convinced the thieves checked out her home earlier in the week. A neighbour saw people on the driveway. Her description of them matches Carol's.

She said: "Five people came during the week. On Tuesday night a girl came to the window and just stared in. When she saw I had seen her she signalled to a man who was standing by my garage. When I went outside there were four more of them."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.