A PENSIONER from the North-East believes she can settle an argument over the identity of Sir Winston Churchill's parrot.

Last week, the war leader's daughter, Lady Soames, rubbished claims that a foul-mouthed Macaw from Surrey had once belonged to her father.

However, Millie Hutchinson, 80, from Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, says she would instantly recognise Churchill's pet - as its distinctive voice used to land her in hot water.

Churchill's parrot regularly used to give her away as she sneaked back into her lodgings after a night out during her time as a Land Girl in the Second World War.

In 1941, Mrs Hutchinson was based at Westerham, near Churchill's family home at Chartwell, Kent.

She stayed at the house of Mr Whitbread, Churchill's gardener, along with the Prime Minister's parrot.

Mrs Hutchinson said: "I can't remember the parrot's markings, but I can remember a song it always used to sing.

"If I was coming back late, which we weren't supposed to do, it used to sing this song and let everyone in the house know I was coming in."

Peter Oram, from Reigate, claims that Charlie, a 104-year-old female macaw - famous for her tirades against the Nazis - once belonged to Churchill.

But Lady Soames said that Charlie may have been confused with Polly, an African grey parrot, which once lived at Chartwell.

Mrs Hutchinson added: "It was a long time ago, but I'd be able to identify Churchill's parrot from the song immediately. It got me into quite a bit of trouble."