Officers at a police station didn't have to work too hard to get their latest visitor to sing like a canary.

They were left shocked when a customer in the form of a yellow canary flew into the hallway of their station and began to chirp away – but the little bird had no information to divulge.

Officers at Bedlington Police Station in Northumberland are now appealing for the owners of the canary, believed to be an escaped pet, to come forward.

The feathered creature winged its way into the station at 8.30am this morning and is now in protective custody at a local vets so it isn't harmed by other wildlife.

PC Vicky Thompson was on duty at the time says officers had to throw a coat over the bird as it was proving difficult to catch.

She said: "I don't really like birds, and I wasn't sure what to think when I saw it.

"It's not the kind of thing you expect to happen during a shift. We're used to catching criminals, not birds.

"We have tweeted about it and hope that the owner will come forward."

PC Thompson added that her and her colleagues spent 20 minutes trying to catch the bird.

When they eventually managed to apprehend it they put it in a box and took it to nearby Whorral Bank Veterinary Hospital.

Vets have deemed the bird, which has a breeding ring around its foot, to be in good health and hope the owner will get in touch soon.

Bedlington Neighbourhood Sergeant Paul Melrose said: "We've had an unexpected visitor to Bedlington Police Station this morning, this little yellow canary arrived at about 8.30 am, and flew into the hallway.

"We knew it was lost and could be at risk of being harmed by other wildlife if we let it out so we took it into protective custody in the neighbourhood office and tweeted that it was lost.

"Unfortunately the bird couldn't tell us where it was from so we're asking for help from the public. We're sure someone must be missing it.

"If it's your bird ring 101 and ask for Bedlington NPT and we'll aim to reunite you with your lost pet."