JOEY the pet parrot led his owner on a 48-hour wild goose chase after flying the "nest".

The African Grey made his break for freedom last Saturday, leaving his owner, Mrs Lynn Crolla, heartbroken.

Mrs Crolla (36) of Winchester Drive, Radcliffe, said: "We were having a barbecue and someone asked to see Joey. He was let out of his cage but made a flight for freedom through the patio doors, which had been left open because it was so hot."

He headed for a treetop next door and Mrs Crolla went on a wing and a prayer and braved her fear of heights to climb a ladder.

But just as she reached the top the £600 bird flew off in the direction of Turks Road.

"By this time all the neighbours and local children knew what had happened so they joined me running through the streets with Joey's cage!" she said.

The feathered flyaway alighted on a tree on Turks Road and Mrs Crolla tried to coax him down in vain, much to the amusement of passing motorists.

"Someone brought a stool and a cup of tea for me,so I must have looked quite a sight sitting there. It was rather embarrassing because Joey was calling out abuse to passers-by in my voice."

But by dusk Joey was still at large and Mrs Crolla had to give up for the night.

"I was heartbroken and cried my eyes out. I thought I'd never see him again and feared the worst; if he didn't get lost he'd get attacked by birds of prey," she said.

The search resumed at 4.30am the next day with Mrs Crolla and her youngest daughter Kirsty, 12, combing nearby woodland.

Mrs Crolla even had "Missing Parrot" posters printed and offered a reward for the safe capture of eleven-month old Joey. But again she returned back from her search to an empty perch.

The next day she hit on the idea that Joey might be drinking from a pond at the back of Coronation Road and, with an ever-growing band of onlookers, headed there and spotted him in the sky. "I couldn't believe how high he was flying. My friend, Beverley Palmer, held up her beeping mobile phone to try to attract him, as he responds to the noise, but even that didn't work. In the end I told all the spectators to be quiet and called him."

Much to the delight of the assembled crowds he swooped down, hovered, landed on her arm and said: "Hiya love, give us a kiss!"

She duly obliged and then grabbed her pride and joy, using her mother's petticoat to wrap him up.

"I was jumping for joy," said a relieved Mrs Crolla. "Miracles do happen. The chances of me actually catching him must have been a million to one."

Joey is now back in his cage, showing off his new repertoire of bird song that he picked up during his adventure in the wild.

But Mrs Crolla is taking no chances and will be having Joey's wings clipped and an identity bracelet fitted.

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