SONIA Waller received the phone call that answered her prayers last week when an RSPCA official said her cherished parrot Bengie had been found 17 miles away.

Her beloved pet disappeared from her conservatory on Wednesday – throwing her into a state of worry over where he might be.

But to her immense relief he had been found in a back garden in north Cambridge, just south of Impington.

Mrs Waller had to describe the parrot to an RSPCA worker after several false claimants came forward, but was delighted to have him back.

“I don’t know what I would have done without him as he’s part of the family and is priceless to me,” said the Chaucer Road resident.

“It was such a relief to get the phone call saying someone had found Bengie. I had to describe what he was like, and what he said, but the lady on the phone said we sounded alike and that convinced her!”

Mrs Waller began to panic when Bengie, who can say about 150 words, was no where to be seen after she left him in the conservatory.

“I had left him downstairs but when I came down he had vanished. He usually comes back after a while but I began to panic when he didn’t.

“I rang my husband and my daughters and we searched frantically around the area, in peoples back gardens and on the street.

“It wasn’t until the next day when a neighbour said they heard on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that someone had found a grey parrot.

“There had been a few people saying it was theirs, which is pretty dishonest, but I knew it would be Bengie.

“I then went on the radio to tell them all about it and they couldn’t believe it.”

It is thought Bengie flew off for mating season, but Mrs Waller takes some of the blame for the episode.

“I had got a little complacent with him, and although I don’t like doing it it’s probably wise to have his wings clipped.

“I won’t let this happen again, but it would be nice to know what he saw on his adventure!”