A COMPUTER-friendly parrot has received 63 e-mail messages from around the world since its owners set up an address for it a month ago.

Albert, the blue-fronted Amazon parrot at the Walworth Castle Hotel, Darlington, has been making new feathered and furry friends around the world via the Internet.

The talkative parrot is actually female, and has lived at the hotel for 14 years. In that time, it has made hundreds of friends from around the world out of guests who have stayed there. Many have sent birthday cards.

The owners of the hotel decided it was time Albert went interactive and set up an email address to keep people up-to-date.

Since then, the bird has featured on the BBC Online website and received messages from people all around the world.

Other parrots have also sent him e-mails, as well as Mitzi the Jack Russell terrier, who asked if he could stay with his owners at the hotel.

Hotel owner Chris Swain said yesterday: "The e-mails are going brilliantly. We are keeping a folder of the messages in reception so guests can read them.

"We've had messages from all over - the states, Australia and New Zealand - and other people are sending e-mails from their animals. Staff are trying to teach him how to say 'I've got mail.'"