They had been together man and bird for 20 years, but Mr Grimwood, from Holbeach, near Spalding, had resigned himself to never hearing his familiar whistle or feeding him his favourite titbits like Rich Tea biscuits again.

However, his prayers were answered when police called to say the African Grey had been found safe and well on land near William Stukeley Primary School, in Holbeach.

As a special reunion treat, Mr Grimwood (68) fed him a chocolate Digestive when he got Jasper back to his home in Farrow Avenue.

He said: “He picks his biscuits up and dips them in his water, but the chocolate melted on the bottom of his feet.”

Jasper went missing on the night of Sunday, July 13.

Mr Grimwood found the cage, in the shed next to his bungalow, opened and with few feathers apparently shed as the bird resisted his captor.

Fearing Jasper – who could be worth up to £800 – had been stolen, Mr Grimwood alerted the police and The ET published an appeal for information at their request.

On Friday police said Jasper had been found squawking by a woman and brought to the police station.