AN ALLOA family's are chirping with joy as their beloved pet budgie has returned home after five days.

Paula Hill and her son Braedynn were distraught after Chip flew out their front door on Wednesday, June 16, as they were leaving the house.

After contacting the Scottish SPCA, they appealed far and wide for any sightings via social media, in the hope that people would spot him and bring him home.

Chip's antics had already gained him a bit of a following online, after Paula set up a Facebook page for him

Her own online appeal was soon shared more than 500 times as they kept up hope he would return.

But after days of heartache, the cheeky budgie was found safe and well, five days after his escape.

Residents in Claremont managed to catch him in a box and contacted the SSPCA who then reached out to Paula.

She told the Advertiser: "I got a message saying 'we've got your budgie', but I asked for a picture just to be sure.

"When I saw it was him I ran into the living room and said they've got Chip – they just burst out crying."

Paula described Chip and her ten-year-old son Braedynn as "inseparable" and how as many became sceptical of Chip's return, Braedynn never gave up hope.

"Nobody had much hope but Braedynn was holding on," She added.

"A few of us gave up hope after three days and I was sceptical, he's only a wee bird and there are a lot of bigger birds like seagulls out there.

"But one of Braedynn's friends had a budgie that flew away and came home and he was convinced Chip would be back.

"We are just so happy to have him home and we can't believe that he stayed in Alloa."

With Chip back where he belongs, he'll be up to old tricks in no time – though, hopefully, no more disappearing acts.

"He is actually quite funny," Paula continued. "He'll dance in front of the mirror and in the sink, he'll eat his food while sitting on the high chair.

"He doesn't go in his cage, the full house is his.

"He even talks and will mimic my partner's Glaswegian accent."

Posts announcing Chip's return have been shared more than 100 times and Paula said people in the town have been stopping to chat about what happened.

Thanking those who brought Chip home, Paula said: "Thank you so much for bringing him home."

To check out Chip's antics, visit www.facebook.com/chip.braedynn