I GOT so depressed by England’s World Cup ‘performance’ on Sunday that I resorted to distraction therapy.

First, I polished two pairs of shoes so hard you could see your face in them (I am a lifetime believer in shiny shoes); then I ironed a shirt. (Like many men I know, I enjoy ironing). Neither task made any difference to the result.

And the news on the economy and public services is not exactly cheerful.

So here to take your mind off such matters is a true, touching tale that has nothing to do with football or politics.

Last week, my staff became aware of strange noises above the ceiling of my constituency office in town. The sounds became clearer. They were from a bird which somehow had found its way into the roof space but could not get out.

There was a bang against the window pane. The office is on the second floor, so it couldn’t have been from a passer-by. Another bang; and another. Two birds were going frantic, bashing into the window, in a vain attempt to get into the roof space.

It was obvious that this pair were the bird’s parents. It’s not just human parents who are driven to despair by their wayward offspring.

My agent Phil Riley arrived in the office.

For those who don’t know Phil, he’s a great guy. He’s been a close friend for 30 years, as well as a colleague. He has many strengths, but let’s say that his softer, sentimental side is not routinely to the fore. That day my three staff saw a different Phil.

He got a ladder from the restaurant on the ground floor and climbed up through the ceiling hatch into the roof space.

My staff (all mums) say that Phil proceeded to speak to the very frightened young bird as if he were calming a baby.

The RSPCA was telephoned. After a while, and lots more cooing by Phil, they arrived with a net. The bird was temporarily captured, and released through the office window.

My staff and Phil then witnessed something extraordinary.

The baby bird and its two parents flew above Sudell Cross – outside the office window – in circles for quite some time, as if to say ‘thank you’.

After this display they went off, no doubt for the parents to find some food and give their baby a firm ticking off about not getting into any further scrapes.

One of my joys as parent when my two children (now in their late 20s) were small was reading to them.

Many of the best children’s books are ones which use animals for their characters – like Winnie the Pooh, Wind in the Willows, and Peace at Last (a great book for exhausted parents!) I’m no expert but children seem to be able to relate to these stories better because the characters are animals – though human too. And for all the differences which we higher animals assume, the story of the bird lost in our roof space suggests that much of our behaviour is based on the most fundamental of instincts.