EXCITED neighbours of expecting parents put a stork on their roof ahead of their return from hospital.

Alastair Slay and Shaila Yasin have been trying for a baby ever since they moved into their Woodley home on Norton Road in 2011.

Shaila gave birth to twins on the morning of April 19.

They were blessed with a boy and girl - Dexter and Arya - but what they didn't know was their neighbours were planning a special surprise for their return home.

James Newton and Edna Cox bought the stork three months ago and waited until Miss Yasin was taken to hospital before putting the animal ornament above their door.

"I came home from the hospital at night and saw it. I thought something was about to jump off the roof at me," said Mr Slay.

"I knew there would be something quirky there. James is a character in the neighbourhood."

The gesture has turned into a tradition after James performed the same act for another couple 30 years ago, adding a knitted baby in a blanket to the beak.

Miss Yasin said: "It was surreal to see this giant bird on the porch, but it was really cute and such a nice gesture.

"He knows everyone on the street. He makes the time to make sure he has spoken to everyone, nothing goes on without James knowing about it.

"It has been a long road, but we are over the moon. To find out we were pregnant was unreal, then to find out we were having twins, and then one of each sex was special."

James, 86, was the first person to come and visit the happy family on their arrival home and was the first person to live in the house now occupied by the new parents.

He said: "They are a really nice couple, they've been trying for a baby for some time.

"We were thrilled to bits when we found out they were having a boy and a girl, so we decided to put it up when he went back to the hospital."