Parrots give worshippers the bird

The parrots have been whistling outside the church in Otley

A church congregation in Otley has had its Christian sensibilities ruffled by a trio of rare birds.

Three parrots that have arrived in the market town have taken to wolf whistling at church-goers.

So far the birds have evaded capture, but are fast becoming a tourist attraction in the area.

Anthony Gardiner, the vicar at Bridge Street church, said the birds have had the congregation tittering in the aisles with their cheeky whistles.

'Pub buys'

"On one particular Sunday evening they did that [whistle], we were very quiet, halfway through this very quiet prayer.

"All of a sudden there's this great wolf-whistle from outside...and yes, it was the parrot."

Steve Nichols, founder of the National Parrot Sanctuary in Skegness, said the issue of free-flying parrots was becoming more widespread and he blamed the relative ease with which they could be bought "in a pub".

He said: "It's very rare that an African Grey would be able to sustain a full winter on their own.

"One or two might eat off bird tables, but the winter weather would be a problem.

"One of the problems is that a lot of these parrots are very cheap because they've been imported."

He added: "Some people don't know what they're really buying or how to look after them and if the bird is difficult, they just open the window and say ...'off you go'."