JIM the Senegal parrot's first flight to freedom nearly ended in disaster.

The green, orange and yellow parrot had only been with his new owners for two days when they decided to let him out of his cage.

"We felt it would be nice for him to have a bit of freedom," said Kelly Dolan, Jim's owner, of Hawthorn Crescent, Quarrington Hill, County Durham.

But as he came out of his cage, Jim first landed on the floor and then his curiosity got the better of him.

With his horrified owner looking on, Jim disappeared behind the gas fire in the living room. Panic-stricken Ms Dolan, and her partner, Richard Howell, tried desperately to free their new pet from behind the fire.

"Fortunately, my children, Bradley aged six and Megan, two, were in bed, otherwise they would have been really upset, said Ms Dolan. "It was chaos and panic stations."

Despite their frantic efforts, the couple were unable to get the parrot out - and in desperation telephoned the fire brigade.

Officers arrived from Durham and in a short time managed to retrieve the bird.

"He was absolutely fine and totally unharmed,'' said Ms Dolan.

But all that the fire officer who rescued him got by way of thanks was a nasty peck on the hand.

Meanwhile, Jim will be confined to his cage until the couple have installed mesh around the fireplace.