A REWARD of £500 is being offered for the return of a chatterbox bird who likes TV soaps after it flew out of a Bolton home.

Simon Stewart has put up the reward for Jamba, an African Grey parrot belonging to his former partner and her 12-year-old daughter.

The three-year-old parrot imitates actors on TV programmes such as Coronation Street and EastEnders and went missing from Lynette Partington's house in Webster Street, Burnden, last Friday.

The grey and red bird flew through the open door of her home after it was startled by children playing outside.

Miss Partington and Mr Stewart bought Jamba for her daughter Christy two years ago and Mr Stewart says she has been "torn apart" over the missing pet.

The 32-year-old painter and decorator said: "Jamba is of real sentimental value to us.

"We paid just over £500 for the bird, but I'm willing to pay the same again so Lynette and Christy can have him back. They really cherished him and they're devastated."

Jamba has been spotted twice in the area, once near the Co-op Travel building in Manchester Road, and once in Weston Street.

Mr Stewart said Miss Partington and Christy will easily recognise their bird when it is found because it has a large vocabulary and imitates TV soap characters.

Anyone with any information on Jamba, who is grey with red tail feathers, is asked to call Miss Partington on 07779362016, or Mr Stewart on 07977825422.