RSPCA officers are trying to trace the owners of a cockatiel which squawks the theme tune to the classic comedy the Adams Family.

The grey bird, nicknamed Gomez, sat silently for 24 hours after being spotted by a passer-by on a busy road. However, he suddenly launched into the theme to the American comedy-horror.

Gomez is waiting at the centre in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, hoping that his owners can be traced.

The RSPCA's Alyson Preston said: "We could not resist calling it Gomez once it started humming the theme tune.

"It took us by surprise when it started, because when we first brought it back here it did not make a sound, it just sat in the cage."

After bursting into song, Gomez went on to talk to staff and they hope he could now lead them to his owners.

Alyson said: "We caught it saying 'hello' again and again, and we are hopeful that now it has started it might say even more.

"There is a chance it could say something which could help us track down the owners. It is obvious that somebody has spent time with this bird and looked after it.

"The owners probably think it is dead because it is so rare for these birds to survive outside their homes.