World champion budgie

The bird is known by the number on his foot ring

A bird from a village in Herefordshire has scooped top prize in the Budgerigar Society World Championships.

The six-inch star beat off competition from 3,500 other birds to win the best bird in show title and prize money of £500 for his owners, bird breeders Nicki and Paul Stannard.

The eight-month-old yellow, cinnamon and blue budgie does not have a name.

Paul and Nicky Stannard own 300 budgies

He is known simply as "Bird 103" - the number on his foot ring.

Mr and Mrs Stannard have been breeding the birds since 1993 and have 300 English breeds at their home in Bodenham.

Mr Stannard was surprised and delighted their bird was a winner.

"We just entered the show as part of our hobby and didn't go there to win a major award. The competition is very tough," he said.

"We took the birds there to do their best and they did better than we expected."

Doncaster Leisure Centre hosted the contest - the budgie world's equivalent of Crufts.