A FAMOUS parrot that used to delight thousands of radio listeners with his antics has been returned to his owner after going missing for two days.

Shadow, a six-year-old African Grey, had prime slots on several radio stations in the Shropshire area in the mid-1990s with his show, Squawk Time.

After going missing from his home in Barbourne, Worcester, on Tuesday night, his owner, former DJ Paul Ellery, appealed to the public for his return.

The bird was spotted walking down a Barbourne garden path last night.

"I can't describe how happy I am to get him back and I can't thank the people who found him enough," said Paul, who lives in New Bank Street.

"Shadow is a bird in a million. People used to phone into the shows and ask him a question. He would always answer with a load of rubbish, but listeners loved it.

"The people who spotted him phoned the police, who then took him to the vets. He had everyone in stitches when I went to collect him. I walked in and he just looked at me and said 'you stupid pigeon'. I thought that was quite appropriate.

"I've also got another African Grey, Jasmine, and they used to do a double act. Jasmine is also delighted to have Shadow back."

Paul believes Shadow must have let himself out of the cage and flown out through the cat flap. He was last seen on the roof of the Barbourne Inn, which is opposite Paul's house. But efforts by the landlord to entice him down with a pint of beer proved useless.

Shadow returned home the way he always travels - on the steering wheel of Paul's car.