ONE Okehampton resident has 'loved' watching a new colourful visitor to his garden.

Dave Potter has a bird feeder in his garden, and it is regularly visited by the usual collection of British wild birds. Over the last fortnight, his feeder has also been attracting a lovebird, a colourful parrot native to the African continent.

Dave said: 'I've no idea how it comes to be frequenting my back garden but it is being attracted to the seed-feeders I keep for the wild birds. I would guess it is an escaped pet.'

A social and affectionate parrot, eight species are native to the African continent, with the grey-headed lovebird native to Madagascar. Their name stems from the birds' strong monogamous pair bonding, and the long periods which paired birds spend sitting together.

The species in Dave's back garden appears to be a rosy-faced lovebird, a species native to arid regions of south-western Africa such as the Namib Desert. They are common in the pet industry.

If you have any information on where the bird may have come from, email the Times on [email protected]">[email protected] or phone 01837 53640.