An African Grey Parrot called Barney who is a "local personality" in Ballymena, County Antrim, has been stolen from a pet shop - along with a python, seven tortoises and two lizards.

The incident happened at a pet shop in the Ladysmith Terrace area of Ballymena on Sunday.

An African grey parrot, seven tortoises, two lizards and a tree python were taken.

A sum of money is also believed to have been stolen.

The £750 parrot has belonged to Ladysmith Pet Supplies owner, Marian McAuley, for a decade.

Thieves "deliberately targeted" the premises due to the value of its birds and reptiles, according to Ms McAuley, and broke in some time between Sunday evening and the early hours of Monday by removing the shop's tin roof and landing on the fish tanks.

"Thankfully the fish weren't harmed but they knew what they were after," Ms McAuley told the Irish News.

"Barney was my pet and could repeat anything you said, he was very intelligent. People came into the shop just to see him, he was a local personality.