A COUPLE who were in a real flap when their singing parrot went missing couldn't believe it when she turned up . . . at the local pub.

Buffy, an African Grey with a penchant for the hit song "Is This The Way to Amarillo?" escaped from Jim and Kay Cornwell's home in Eskrick Street, Halliwell on Sunday.

Despite searching all night, Buffy - who also sings "Old McDonald Had A Farm" - eluded her devastated owners.

But eventually the colourful character was found hiding under the barbecue in the backyard of The Bowling Green public house 24 hours after her great escape.

Mrs Cornwell, aged 60, said: "Jim and I are absolutely thrilled to have her back. She is a real part of the family. It's typical of her cheekiness that she was found at the pub.

"She did give us a real fright, though, because we've had Buffy for two years, since she was nine weeks old, and she has never escaped before. She hadn't gone far - the pub's in our street. We've always clipped Buffy's wings and she escaped at a time when they were due to be redone."

The parrot disappeared after jumping from Mr Cornwell's shoulder when he went outside to investigate a noise.

He said: "I didn't understand why she jumped off my shoulder, she'd never done it before. When we got her home, she ate and drank for about half an hour. We're so relieved to have her back."

The anxious couple were set to offer a £100 reward for her safe return when pub landlord Rob Taylor contacted Mr Cornwell.

Mr Taylor said: "My business partner, Jackie Buckley, realised something was wrong in the yard when my labrador, Allardyce, came in with his hair on end.

"He was desperate to go outside again, so Jackie went out with a customer who managed to catch Buffy."