Gnasher the yellow-crested cockatoo led the emergency services on a merry dance after he flew into a tree.

His owners, Alex and Tamara Double, took Gnasher in his cage to the Plough pub in Clifton Hampden near Abingdon.

But while they were sittingin the garden with Gnasher perched on Mr Double's shoulder, a cockerel which crowed, scaring the cockatoo which flew off across the road to a tall tree.

Gnasher the cockatoo

Pub landlord Yuksel Bektas took a ladder for Mr Double, of Bennett Crescent, Hollow Way, Cowley, Oxford, who climb the tree to coax the bird down. But near the top, Mr Double became stuck and the fire service and police were called.

The fire crew's ladder was not long enough to reach Mr Double so a hydraulic platform had to be sent from Rewley Road fire station in Oxford.

Police closed the road and tailbacks built up as the rescue took place.

But as Mr Double was lowered to the ground, Gnasher was mobbed by crows and flew to a smaller tree down the road.

Mrs Double then came to the rescue and with the help of fire officers she climbed a ladder and coaxed Gnasher into his cage.

Mrs Double said: ''It was an entertaining afternoon for the pub customers."

Mr Double, 63, a teacher at Wood Eaton Manor School, said: "I tried to get down but it looked too dangerous so we thought it best that I stayed put until the fire service came."

**Picture: Jon Lewis