A DISTRAUGHT parrot owner has thanked a Thurrock community for their efforts to find her family's missing pet - but so far the search for Makhan, an African Gray, has proved fruitless.

Raminder Kaur Bahra of Brandon Close, Chafford Hundred, appealed for help through pet search organisation Pippa's Army, which specialises in the search for lost pets in Havering and Thurrock.

The bird went missing yesterday (Thursday, 7 May) when a window was left open as the family joined in the clapping for the NHS.

Raminder said: "Our precious African Grey Makhan flew out during the NHS clapping. He's friendly and is human-reared, so he may come to you looking for food or water.

"He may be in your garden, or on a tree, He has a little ring on his right foot.

"He is able to speak, his favourite words are 'goodnight' and 'mum'. Try to lure him I'm if you see him and we will come and collect him.

"Please, if anyone sees him, contact us on 07583 865 679 or 07734 066 133. We miss him dearly and would love for him to return.

"Thank-you everyone for looking, we are so distraught."