Ringo, a 16-year-old African grey parrot, was missing for more than 48 hours, since escaping from the Welsh College of Horticulture's small animal unit, in Northop on Sunday.

When animal workers at the centre went to do one of their many weekend feeds, they found Ringo's cage ajar, and he was nowhere to be see.

Animal unit manager and owner, Lindon Webb, said: "It was horrible when I heard he had gone. From the way his cage was left he must have opened it with his beak and then nipped through the cat flap and flew away.

"He did this 10 years ago – he must be on his second mission! He came back after a couple of days last time."

Sure enough, the rogue bird was back in his cage yesterday, having reappeared outside its door.

Lindon has kept Ringo at the Northop college's animal centre after rescuing him ten years ago from a sanctuary, in what he describes as a 'horrific state.'

He said: "Ringo had been dumped by his careless owners who kept him in really awful conditions.

"He had never been handled and he was in a very bad state.

"Everyone loves Ringo, he's a cheeky chap who will talk to those people he knows."