STARLINGS, blackbirds and robins are regular visitors to Knutsford’s gardens.

But, last week, a family in Tabley Road welcomed a rather more unusual feathered friend.

Two young brothers found a bright blue budgie sitting on their trampoline.

Their dad, former England cricketer Peter Martin, 40, was in the house and heard a commotion from the garden.

“I was on the computer and there was a hell of a hullabaloo,” he said.

“I went outside and there was a blue budgerigar that had joined them on the trampoline.”

Bexton Primary School pupils Oliver, 7, and Louis, 4, stayed with the budgie on the trampoline.

Mr Martin, who is a coach at Lancashire Cricket Club, said the bird was very tame.

“The kids played with it on the trampoline for about five minutes,” he said.

Mr Martin took the bird to Pets at Home, in Canute Square, Knutsford, to get it some food.

He wrapped it up in a coat under his arm and the budgie did not try to escape.

The family then fed and watered the pet.

Later, they decided to take it to the Ark Veterinary Surgery, in Town Lane, Mobberley.

But by the time they set off in the car the bird was becoming livelier.

“It was jumping on the steering wheel and on the kids,” said Mr Martin, who is also a part-time artist.

Staff at the surgery checked out the bird and then sent it to Lower Moss Wood animal sanctuary, near Ollerton.

It was a strange coincidence for warden Ray Jackson.

Just a day earlier a care home had called to ask if he had a budgie that needed a home.

They wanted a bird for one of their elderly residents.

“It’s a bit of a coincidence that the next thing that comes through the door is a budgie,” said Mr Jackson.

The bird might be given to the elderly woman if its previous owners cannot be found.

But Mr Jackson said a local family must have lost the budgie.

“It’s not flown all the way from Australia,” he said.

Lower Moss Wood has cared for budgies in the past.

It once looked after an all-white bird that staff named Elvis.

Mr Jackson said the new arrival was quite tame.

“It’s a young bird and the chances are it was a little bit cold and hungry when it was found,” he said.

If you know who the budgie belongs to call Lower Moss Wood on 01565 755082.