Cumbrian firefighters put thoughts of strikes firmly behind them as they tackled one of their most unusual incidents - rescuing a frightened parrot.

An emergency crew from Carlisle was scrambled to the Botcherby area of the city when Dodger, an African Grey, became stranded.

Dodger had been missing for two days and was discovered by his owners nestling in conifers.

Firefighters, who used a turntable ladder to rescue the bird in St Andrew's Close, said the operation went "without a flap".

Turntable ladder

Assistant divisional fire officer Simon Kelly said: "The emergency control room received a call from the owners of the parrot.

"They said he had been missing for a number of days but they had discovered him in some trees.

"They said the bird was tired or afraid and wouldn't move.

"He was inaccessible to them as it was 30ft up in a tree.

"I called for a turntable ladder and two men went up and managed to rescue Dodger with the help of some parrot food.

"This certainly isn't the normal sort of animal rescue we would usually do.

"But we do like to offer humanitarian services and we're just glad everything turned out ok."