A SHOPPING centre's staff did not get into a flap when a yellow budgie was handed in to lost property.

The bird had flown into the Gateshead MetroCentre and landed in the safe hands of a shopper, who took it to the customer services desk.

A spokeswoman for the centre said: "The lady just appeared at the customer services desk and handed it in as a piece of lost property.

"We do get all sorts of stuff handed in. But after years of collecting lost property in the form of walking sticks, clothing, false teeth and even a false eye, the budgie was the cutest item to be handed in to the desks yet.

"It has obviously come from somewhere not too far away from the centre so, hopefully, we can find its owner."

They named the bird Sherbert, after giving it a temporary home in a box that was packaging for a toy of the same name - one of the centre's MetroGnome mascots.

The staff knew just who to turn to for help - budgie enthusiast and MetroCentre technical services building supervisor Doug Turnbull.

Mr Turnbull, former chairman of the Gateshead Budgie Society and three times winner of the World Budgie Show in the 1980s, said: "Sherbert seems to have settled in very well.

"We have a cockatiel at home and he seems to have taken to Sherbert straight away."

Anyone who thinks the budgie might be theirs is asked to contact the centre on 0191-493 0200.