Ted Richards has undergone surgery to remove his ears/SWNS

A man has undergone surgery to remove both ears in order to look more like his pet parrots.

Ted Richards, who has already had his face and eyeballs tattooed to resemble his pet birds, had his ears removed in a six hour operation.

He said: “I’ve done it because I want to look like my parrots as much as possible. I think it looks really great. I love it.

“It’s the best thing that has happened to me. I am so happy it’s unreal. I can’t stop looking in the mirror.”

Eccentric Ted is obsessed by pets Ellie, Teaka, Timneh, Jake and Bubi and has his face tattooed with colourful feathers in tribute - he also also sports 110 tattoos, 50 piercings and a split tongue.

The 56-year-old has even given his severed ears to a friend who "will appreciate them” and is now planning to find a surgeon prepared to turn his nose into a beak.

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The 56-year-old wants to turn his nose into a beak/SWNS

Ted is not revealing the name of the surgeon who carried out the controversial operation but insists he is “happier than ever,” and has even now got himself a girlfriend, Suzannah, 31.

The only issue following the surgery has been difficultly keeping his glasses in place, so Ted has opted for two small metal pins added to the side of his head.

Perhaps surprisingly, Ted has largely received positive reaction to his new look.

“The kids are running up to me and asking to see gory photos - they just love it,” he reveals.

"They are just so fascinated. I was really surprised - I thought they were more likely to run away.”

He added: “I went to the supermarket the other day and when I went in I said ‘blimey it’s so windy out there it blew my ears off’ and everybody had a chuckle.

"There’s no doubt that when they made me they broke the mould. But seriously, I love the fact that I’m unique and I have always wanted to be different.”

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