SOCIAL media came to the rescue when devastated Sue Addo lost her beloved cockatoo called Sylvester.

The much loved pet escaped from her home in Market Lavington, near Devizes, last week and she spent days searching the area, putting up posters and asking for help on Facebook.

Eventually after five days people in nearby Eastcott Common Lane were alerted to the a strange noise that they initially thought was a baby owl but later realised it was the missing slender billed corella cockatoo

Mrs Addo found him sat in a tree but unable to fly down and this time the wind that had helped him take flight from his own garden was now stopping him from taking to the air.

So she got in touch with fellow cockatoo owner Simon Cowley who had contacted her via Facebook.

She said: "Simon had also helped search for Sylvester on three evenings after work giving up his own time willingly as he loves parrots and had previously rescued five others which had escaped

"Sylvester is now his sixth conquest as he was able to climb a very tall Eucalyptus tree and coax him to step on his hand and then into a cloth bag with some walnuts in it and climb down with him.

"Sylvester was extremely hungry thirsty and tired after his ordeal but non the less unharmed."

Mrs Addo said she was very grateful as after several sleepless nights and getting up to search from 4.30am each day she imagined the worst.

She said: "A tame parrot in the wild is vulnerable to all sorts of predators and he was extremely lucky to have survived, needless to say he is now grounded."

She described Mr Cowley as her hero and advised others to use a combination of posters and social media if in a similar situation.