AN ESCAPED canary which was spotted and captured in Thornbury after two nights in the open recovered from its ordeal in October 1977.

Caged-bird-breeder Didi Watkins was called in by police to capture the bird after it was seen at Crossways.

Mrs Watkins and her husband John finally netted the canary in the garden of Evelyn Lock, who had reported the unusual visitor to police three days earlier.

“We tried desperately to catch the bird for two days,” said Mrs Watkins, who lives at Thornbury Park Farm estate and has more than 100 chicks at her home.

“My own birds have escaped on odd occasions and the police refer all escaped birds to me.

“I am quite happy to save these birds, though I am rather surprised the owner of this canary has not contacted the police,” she said.

Mrs Watkins took the opportunity to ask for any person who sees two other escaped birds to get in contact.

She had lost a Primrose Pied Parrot, which was yellow with grey markings, and a cockatiel, which was sparrow sized, brown with pink and blue flashes.

Strangely, Mrs Lock, who reported the canary and fed it until it was caught, has a phobia - she was very afraid of birds.