A potty-mouthed parrot posing as a child’s toy turned the air Norwegian Blue after it launched a volley of swear words at a mother and tot.

Tina Banks said she nearly fell off her perch after the cuddly bird - picked out of a toy section of the 99p Store, in North Street, Brighton - told her 11-month-old daughter Roxy it was going to “rip her head off”.

Mrs Banks, of Hillside, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, said she only realised the colourful toy could talk after she heard swearing coming from her baby’s pushchair.

She said: “I couldn't believe what was coming out of it. I took it straight off my daughter and put it in my bag.

“It was not until we were on the way home that I realised it spoke. There was a man in front of me who turned around and thought someone was insulting him. There were quite a few for sale and it could get people into all sorts of trouble.”

Mrs Banks, who also has a daughter Kelly, 21, and two other children aged eight and nine, said she was glad Roxy was too young to understand but that her other children had heard the toy.

She said it had only been wrapped in clear plastic with nothing to warn her that it swore.

She said: “I am not very happy. There is enough swearing in the world without buying something like this and having to listen to it.

“I could not believe what I was hearing. It's awful and I won't be going back to the shop in a hurry.

“I want to warn other people so they don't buy it for their children.”

Hussein Lalani, commercial director of 99p Stores, said the toy had a label sewn into it which said it was for adults only.

He said: “I am aware of the toy and I apologise as it should not have been in the toy section.

“I will be speaking to the manager to make sure he puts it into the correct position.

“It is quite clearly labelled that the product is not suitable for children and none of the toys we have are suitable for kids under three-years-old.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “One of our trading standards officers will be visiting the store and advising the staff to ensure that the parrots are displayed away from the children's toys.

“We will also be checking that the packaging states that these items are not for children and that the product complies with the current toy safety legislation.”