A Pet shop owner has come to the aid of a girl who lost her parrot.
Katelyne Clark, seven, of Lanethorpe Road, Darlington, received a bird for Christmas but it had red mites, a condition similar to fleas.
The man who sold the family the bird for £125 promised to deliver a replacement last week but did not show up.
After hearing of the little girl's plight from her mother, Zoe, pet shop owner Maurice McCloskey decided to give the family a bird.
Last night, Katelyne was introduced to her new parrot, a baby African grey, at Mr McCloskey's Darlington Aquatics store, in Gladstone Street, Darlington.
Mr McCloskey said: "This is an appalling way to behave towards a young girl. I've a daughter of my own and I'd hate to see someone treat her like that. It's the least I could do really."
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