THERE could be as many as eight parakeets posing as parrots in Exeter, it has emerged.

As reported in the Echo, Kathleen Foster, of Heavitree, paid £165 in response to an advert for a baby parrot which turned out to be an unfriendly parakeet which bit her.

The bird was delivered by a woman in a white van who said she had travelled from Newcastle.

Trading standards officers are now investigating the case but it is believed there are several other rogue parrots in the city.

Among them is one now owned by Lisa Bryant of Exeter.

Ms Bryant said: "I saw the story in the Echo about the lady who bought a tame, talking, good with children parrot from a lady with a white van — we bought one too.

"The woman delivered ours on Sunday morning and said she had about seven to deliver in the Exeter area.

"She reassured us he was male, talking and very tame. He won't come near us. He won't talk and is very scared.

"She said they drove down from Newcastle the night before with the birds."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "We would always advise people against taking on any pet simply because they feel sorry for it."

A spokesman for Devon County Council's Trading Standards Service said: "We have received one complaint and will be investigating the misdescription of the parrots or parakeets being sold.

"We would urge all consumers to buy from local, reputable businesses rather than people they don't know."