FELIXSTOWE: One-legged crow Percy who returned home after going missing for three-and-a-half years, has sadly died.

The bird passed away just days after being reunited with his owner Nettie Trigg, leaving her heartbroken for a second time.

“Percy just flew off when he left – there was no warning, he just upped and went leaving a broken heart behind him,” said Nettie, 67, who runs the Small Animal Rescue Centre in Russell Road, Felixstowe.

“It’s my strong belief that wildlife must be free to return to the wild when they are ready.

“For three-and-a-half years, I looked at every crow to see if it was Percy.

“When I went to collect him from Mistley Place Park, I picked up a very weak Percy and my happiness was to be short-lived.

“He died in his sleep a few days later.

“Did he come back to die? We shall never know, but crows are very intelligent birds and he was a very special crow.”

Percy could make the sounds of a dog barking and also the noise of a hedgehog.

He was found in some hay in a shed by Maureen Taylor, who runs the Mistley Place Park animal sanctuary.

Initially it was thought he may have been dumped there, but now it is believed he was probably sheltering because of his poor health.

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