A runaway ostrich sparked chaos on a busy main road and brought rush hour traffic to a standstill today.
Drivers on the A12 in Colchester were treated to the bizarre sight of an ostrich wandering between their cars during the evening rush hour.
One man managed to usher the bird to the side of the road.
Student Grace Hoffman, who captured the bizarre spectacle on video, said: "There was suddenly standstill traffic and I pulled to a stop. When I looked forward...an ostrich was just walking down the side of the road.
"A couple people got out and helped but I think it was contained safely."
Essex Police confirmed they had attended the incident alongside Highways England staff between junctions 27 and 28, adding that officers located the bird at around 7pm.
It is not known where the bird came from or how it got on to the road.
Last year a similar looking bird held up traffic on the nearby A133 in Elmstead.
Though initially reported as an ostrich, it turned out to be a rhea named Colin.
