Lincolnshire Wildlife Park’s swearing parrots have swapped bad language for Christmas songs

A wildlife park's group of swearing parrots have finally started to curb their bad language despite grannies 'egging them on' - but have now started singing Christmas songs instead.

The foul-mouthed birds at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park have become a tourist attraction since their antics hit the headlines last month.

People have been flocking from across Britain and Europe desperate to get an earful from the eight problem parrots which have been swearing at visitors.

The attraction has even resorted to putting up warnings asking customers not to encourage the bad behaviour after noticing people "egging them on".

But a plan to introduce the birds to the rest of the flock in a bid to dilute the swearing appears to be working, says owner Steve Nichols.

Get the latest news to your inbox by signing up for The Briefing

Despite being worried about ending up with 100 swearing parrots, keepers say they have not heard any further colourful language since the birds were put together.

However they have now taken to singing Christmas songs - in the middle of February.

Steve said: "We have noticed they have significantly calmed down so the plan seems to be working.

"It's early days still but it's been a good start. We haven't heard any of the really crude language. We're getting more microwaves and Ninja air fryer sounds now.

"Of course people are still walking up to the enclosure and swearing in front of the parrots, hoping they will copy the words.

"I've even seen 80-year-old women doing the same. We get visitors from the Women's Institute and show them around for a tour.

"But when you turn your back and walk away you can hear them giggling and trying to get the parrots to swear and egging them on.

"You can't help but laugh but you don't want them using that kind of language around children.

"A sod off isn't so bad but when they are dropping f-bombs and c-bombs, you don't want that around families.

"But they have become a tourist attraction in their own right. We've had people from Scotland and Cornwall travel up to see them.

"We have even had customers from Eastern Europe. We've had visitors from Latvia and Poland who have been on holiday in England but gone out of their way to visit.

"One of them has started singing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' and 'Auld Lang Syne' which is fine for the right time of the year but not so much for February.

"It's started catching on with the others but at least they aren't swearing as much, which has to be a good thing.

"Although I think if we ended up with 100 swearing parrots I wouldn't have to advertise ever again and we'd probably be even busier."