A friendly Australian parrot, just like one which appears regularly on Neighbours, is baffling village residents after turning up in their parish churchyard.

When Jennifer Pakiam said "Hello" it replied instantly with the same word after she spotted it outside St Romald's Church in Romakdkirk near Barnard Castle, Co Durham.

She and her daughters Bryony and Fiona now call it Charlie and look after it at their home in the village - but despite making inquiries around the area for four weeks they still don't know who owns it or how it got there.

All they do know from checking the internet is that Charlie is a galah, a native of Western Australia, and is exactly like one they have seen in Neighbours, the TV soap opera.

Mrs Pakiam said yesterday: "He is a real charmer. He has obviously been well loved and handled a lot. Every time the phone rings he shouts Hello. He says other words, but I'm keeping them secret to stop some fraudster claiming him.

"Everyone around here is baffled about how such a fine bird can turn up without anyone reporting him missing. If the owner doesn't turn up we'll just have to keep him."

He is 18 inches high, with pink and grey head, rose pink chest and grey wings. He enjoys apples, bananas, grapes, cooked vegetables and millet.

Mrs Pakiam, who has borrowed a large cage for Charlie, added: "I occasionally watch Neighbours and have noticed the parrot just like him. We have discovered that this type can live to the age of 20 in the wild but can reach the age of 80 in captivity, so we may have him for a very long time."