Elvis the dive-bombing parrot banished from Yorkshire home

A mischievous parrot named Elvis who hit the headlines after almost being landed with an ASBO for terrorising a sleepy village with his daredevil antics has finally been banished from his home.

After years of getting his neighbours all shook up by dive bombing residents, stealing metal from roofs and damaging lamp posts, South American macaw Elvis has at last left the district.

Elvis was ejected to a rural retirement retreat after swooping down on an elderly man in his picturesque home town of Wilsden, West Yorks.

Ian Watson, from Bradford Council's anti-social behaviour team, said the bizarre bird's antics had become so bad there was no other choice but to send him away to his new home.

He said: "The straw that broke the camel's back came after we received a complaint from an off duty police officer. His elderly father had gone out with his three-year-old grandson and Elvis swooped down, terrified the elderly gentleman and caused the child to have nightmares.

"He has moved to Shropshire, in a very remote part of the country and well away from people. We visited the other day and the aviary in Wilsden where he used to live has now gone."

Following the latest anti-social incident earlier this month, Mr Watson, and PC Mick Wilkinson visited owner Edward Pikul and his daughter Melissa at their home.

They explained the problem to the family who agreed to send Elvis to pastures new.

Mr Watson said: "We went to see them and had a chat to point out the impact Elvis was having on villagers and explained that it was not really on when a three-year-old is having nightmares. He took it on board and did what needed to be done."

He added: "The window cleaners and milkmen can all come out of hiding and back on their rounds in safety now - Elvis has left the district."

Infamous Elvis first made the headlines last year when Edward, who bought the two-foot long blue macaw eight years ago, was threatened with an ASBO.

Businessman Edward insisted it was cruel for his pet to be kept in a tiny cage and allowed him to spread his brightly-coloured wings around the neighbourhood.

But the suspicious minds of some locals in the village turned against

inquisitive Elvis who they said was responsible for damaging property and terrorising the neighbourhood.

Divorced Edward, 50, a father to 19-year-old Melissa, received letters from his local council following residents' complaints, with some even calling for the parrot to be given an ASBO and kept locked in his cage at the back of his large detached house at the top of the quiet village.

Speaking at the time Edward, who owns a fridge and air conditioning company said: "I would rather allow him to be let out, he just comes and goes as he pleases. If I had to imprison him in his cage, I would rather get rid of him.

It would be upsetting, he is a lovely pet and would never harm anybody.

"Elvis is just a mad old thing, he follows me down the lane when I go to work.

He clings onto the roof racks and holds on for dear life and then flies around the village until he feels like coming home."

Neighbour Neil Whitaker, a fond supporter of Elvis, said: "He brought fun and colour to the village and really made our village stand out from the other villages.

"Any damage he did cause, the owner offered to pay for, so I can't see that there was any problem - I'm honestly disappointed that we won't be seeing him flying around this summer with the sunlight gleaming off his colourful feathers."