A HOMING pigeon that lost its bearings in the North-East while on its way to Scotland is refusing to go home.

And despite every effort by its exasperated host to help the visitor on its way, the pigeon has not lived up to its name - and has returned to Ben Armishaw's home, in Consett, County Durham, time after time.

He said: "She arrived in my back garden - much the worse for wear and looking exhausted and ruffled, in the middle of May.

"We feed the birds and many other homing pigeons have stopped off on their way for a rest. But they go away again once refreshed and replenished.

"But this one, who we have named Penny, just refused to go."

For a week, he tried in vain to catch the elusive bird, which had a racing ring on one leg and registery ring on the other.

He finally managed to catch the bird after luring it into his kitchen with corn.

According to the rings, the bird is from the Mid Lothian area of Scotland.

A friend who was travelling to Cato Bar offered to take Penny.

"He released her at 7.30am but by 5pm the following day she was back," said Mr Armishaw.

Then, his friend was travelling to Coldstream - a few wing beats closer to home.

Ben said: "He telephoned me at 9.30am to say he had just released her. But in less than three hours she was back - and looking fresh as a daisy at that."

Finally, Penny was taken to a pigeon fancier, who felt he would be able to breed from it.

The last Mr Armishaw saw of Penny, it was being taken to a cree with a friend, armed with a pair of scissors to clip its wings.

But he is convinced he has not seen the last of Penny. Given the chance to regrow its flight feathers, it will soon be back.