"My pet cockatoo has been freed after three months at Heathrow due to paperwork"

A cockatoo who spent three months at Heathrow after being detained over a paperwork issue has been freed.

Charlie, four, was supposed to be reunited with Jess Adlard, 33, in August.

She moved from Pennsylvania in the US to the UK in November 2022 but had to leave her pet behind.

Charlie was supposed to arrive nine months later - but was held at Heathrow over a missing form on landing.

This week, Jess and husband Joe, 36, a customers clearance agent, drove down to Heathrow to take Charlie home and said he is chatting up a storm.

Jess, a former pharmacy technician, from Loughborough, Leics., said: "I feel relief and joy - I feel so complete.

"He has coped brilliantly, I didn't expect to be hearing 'I love you' for a month or two at least.

"For him to say it on the first day we pick him up is amazing.

"Charlie is a tough little guy, he is settling in great - he has exceeded every expectation."

Joe, 36, a customs clearance agent, flew out to the US to bring Charlie to the UK.

But once they landed the cockatoo was held over a missing document, they say.

Jess, said: "They said the original export permit was missing - but it was with Charlie when he left the airport in the States.

"It has cost us £6,000 to get him here.

"We have sent picture copies over to them but they say they need to see the original but it was with Charlie.

"We haven't heard anything from them since September."

Jess bought Charlie, a rose-breasted cockatoo in December 2019 and said he is "a cheeky chap".

She was unable to speak to Charlie for months and said staff at the private animal facility have been playing the movie Rio - about a talking bird - on a tablet to calm him.

Joe and Jess are both over the moon to have him home and are excited to start the next chapter of their life.

Joe said: This morning is the first time Jess has been able to wake up and give Charlie his good morning routine.

"He likes his new digs pretty well, I have bee whistling to him and we have been bobbing our heads together.

"I have been whispering that I love him and he has been saying it back, he is so ready to be part of our lives."