An 11-year-old boy has taken a baby magpie under his wing and nursed it back to health after it fell from its nest last week.

Bradley Westwood, of Beehive Lane, Ilford, heard some chirping in his back garden and when he went to see what it was, the small bird was lying on the ground.

The Clore Tikva, Fullwell Avenue, Barkingside, pupil – who also has a pet snake, a parrot and a dog to look after – has named the bird Maggie after he started feeding it when its mother abandoned her.

The bird has now regained strength and has started attempting to use its wings.

Bradley said: “I have been feeding her slugs. I don’t want her to leave as I have enjoyed looking after her.”