FEARS of bird flu may be sweeping the world, but the owner of South Woodford's most famous budgie, Sammy III, says she is unconcerned.

Barbara Schenker, of Marlborough Road, has been training Sammy (left) to follow in the footsteps of his two illustrious predecessors who between them met the Queen, appeared on both Richard and Judy, and the Mel and Sue shows, and became the first non-human to ride on the London Eye.

Sammy III, who travels in a specially customised see-through rucksack on Barbara's bicycle, should be safe because he is unlikely to come into contact with the virus.

Barbara said: "I'm absolutely not worried because he is in quarantine 24/7, he does not get in touch with other birds at all."

Sammy II was presented with a bravest pet of the year award on the Richard and Judy show after nearly being squashed in a fire door but recovered sufficiently to marry Ms Schenker on the BBC Big and Daft radio show.

Sammy I learned how to sing God Save the Queen and whistled it for Her Majesty on her visit to Wanstead in 2002, but it appears that Sammy III, cannot yet be trusted in such illustrious company, having sworn live on air during a radio phone-in.