BIRD watchers were almost caught on the hop when a rare visitor from Mediterranean regions chose the North-East for a summer holiday with a difference.

The gaudily-plumaged roller, about the size of a jackdaw, settled in a stretch of South Tyneside farmland not on the beat of local birdwatchers.

But such an eye-catching bird did not escape the attention of Jeannie Crann, of Seaburn Dene, Sunderland, and Carole Richards, of Washington, Wearside, when they went to Mundles Farm, near East Boldon, to tend to their horses. They told farmer Geoff Alderslade about their find.

Twelve days later, bird-watcher Wa1ter Moss, of Southwick, Sunderland, happened by chance to walk along the half-mile farm track, and Mr Alderslade pointed out the rarity.

He spread the word and within hours a crowd of enthusiasts had gathered.

Mr Alderslade said: "While this is a private road, I am happy for people to walk along to see this splendid bird. My only plea is: Please don't try to drive cars along the lane as they will block access."

Durham Bird Club recorder Tony Armstrong said: "We are very lucky to have had an opportunity to see this very rare visitor to the region.

"Had it not been for Walter coming along the track, it could have been the miss of the millennium.

"There are local bird watchers currently touring Brazil who will be much sicker than the parrots they are seeing there if the roller has gone when they return."

Southern Spain and France are the nearest regular haunts of rollers, which migrate to East Africa in winters.