Two schoolboys are £100 richer after being dive-bombed by a runaway parrot.

Oliver Horner and Will Sabine got the reward for finding Eddie the Amazon Green after the bird's 24-hour adventure.

The 11-year-old friends thought they were under attack from Eddie but all he wanted was a friendly head to sit on.

They looked after six-month-old Eddie until he was reunited with his owners.

Eddie escaped through an open door at his home in Wilmington Way, Brighton, on Monday, sparking a frantic search by his owners.

Chris Edwards, his wife, Karla, and their children, Max, 14, Daniella, 13, and Gabriella, six, combed the streets, put posters in shops and on lampposts and alerted police and the RSPCA.

It wasn't until the next evening that Oliver, of nearby Larkfield Way, and Will, of Lucerne Road, Brighton, came to the rescue.

The Varndean School students were bouncing on a trampoline in Oliver's garden when Eddie swooped on them.

Oliver said: "I was really shocked and we ran for it."

The bird chased the boys as they fled through patio doors into Oliver's house.

Oliver's mother, Denise Horner, called the RSPCA who put two and two together and contacted the Edwards family.

As they waited, the boys and Mrs Horner's two other children Sophie, eight, and Louis, five, fed Eddie with crackers.

Mrs Horner said: "Mr Edwards walked in, opened his arms and called Eddie's name. He was in tears as Eddie flew to him."

All the families were together at the Edwards' home last night to celebrate Eddie's safe return.

Mr Edwards gave Oliver and Will £50 each and there was a tin of sweets for Sophie and Louis.