Budgies sing for joy in their refurbished home

Maureen North, of Antoneys Close, Pinner, visits the park regularly with her nine-year-old daughter and said: "You can definitely hear them better, they sound a lot louder and happier. It looks lighter and a lot better than before, my daughter loves coming to the park and looking at the birds."

More than 70 birds live in the aviary and the improvements have come after a long campaign by Suzanne Sedgeman, which was reported in the Observer at the end of August, but she said more could still be done.

The campaigner, who collected over 100 signatures, said: "I am happy with what the council have done so far, but I think a lot more needs to be done. You can see into the aviary easier than before and it looks clean and tidy, but I still see it as Colditz for birds. I will continue to protest and campaign until all the wood has been removed or an alternative to the meshing is found."

The RSPCA assessed the aviary earlier this year, and recommended minor changes after an infection killed a number of birds last winter.

Harrow council team leader for the west area Graham Legood said: "We hope to have the rest of the work finished by late October, the young are nesting at the back at the moment, so we can't move them. Once they are alright to be moved to a temporary home we will paint the back white to give them more light."