A BUDGIE who came back from the brink of death four years ago has gained an army of fans among regulars at a dales cafe.

Seven-year-old Norris is owned by Mr Bob Gibson and his wife, Sonya, who own the Ivy Cottage cafe on the green at Reeth. He has overcome life-threatening health problems, including a form of budgie gout, to become a star attraction with his talking and antics.

Mrs Gibson explained: "We got Norris when he was six months old and he talked from day one. But when he was three years old he started to have trouble with his feet.

"We lived at Selby at the time and kept taking him to the local vet who did not know what was wrong. Antibiotics did no good, Norris stopped talking and slept most of the time; he just wasn't himself. Eventually the vet said we should put him to sleep."

Fortunately, a friend recommended the international zoo veterinary group, and one of its members, Mr Andrew Greenwood, saved Norris. He removed a lump on Norris's chest, cleared the uric acid from his feet and gave him a new lease of life.

He still has to take tablets and needs a special cream when his feet flare up, but he is back to being an integral member of the family and regularly performs tricks to keep visitors amused.

"He wolf whistles very loudly, which is quite embarrassing when customers think it's me or Bob," laughed Mrs Gibson.

Norris also loves music and likes nothing better than to be serenaded by Mrs Gibson.

She said: "I can't sing, but Norris doesn't know that. He loves to sit on my shoulder while I sing to him and he usually nods off. He likes lullabies but draws the line at On Ilkley Moor Baht 'at."

Customers who call in for one of the cafe's speciality cream teas often ask if they can go through to the family's quarters to see Norris, and he gets Christmas cards from them every year.

Mrs Gibson added: "We never close the door on his cage and he comes and goes as he pleases. He has his meals with us and eats the same things as us; his favourite is cake."