When burglars broke into the Isle of Dogs home of Gennadi Kurkul, Kuzya the crime-fighting parrot sprung into action. Mr Kurkul, a Russian interpreter, said: ""It must have been about 4am when we heard Kuzya let out a massive scream.

When burglars broke into the Isle of Dogs home of Gennadi Kurkul, Kuzya the crime-fighting parrot sprung into action.

Mr Kurkul, a Russian interpreter, said: "It must have been about 4am when we heard Kuzya let out a massive scream. The noise he made must have terrified the burglars because they ran straight out of the house. You could hear it all over the Docklands."

The burglars had reached in through a window and stolen Mr Kurkul's wallet. They then managed to open the door and enter the house - but their visit was cut short thanks to Kuzya.

Mr Kurkul was delighted with his crime-busting pet. He said: "He's a fantastic bird. He follows me all round the house like a dog. I don't keep him in a cage, he just finds a spot at night where he likes to sleep and settles down there - sometimes under the stairs.

"That's how he was able to scare them away. He must have heard their footsteps and just started screaming."

Kuzya, a Lorrie parrot, has a name that translates as 'house spirit'.