Free as a bird! Escaped ‘ostrich’ weaves between cars as it makes a run for it down the A12 in Colchester

• The brazen bird wandered between cars on the A12 in Colchester this afternoon
• It shocked and surprised commuters who slowed for the flightless animal
• The fearless fowl was later driven home by roads officers from Essex Police 
• It is not yet known where the runaway bird has appeared from

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A runaway bird brought traffic to a standstill on a busy main road this afternoon.

The fearless fowl was spotted wandering between cars on the A12, near Colchester United’s stadium, at around 5.30pm.

Believed to be an ostrich, it was later driven back home by two officers from Essex Police.

The reported ostrich (pictured) wandered between cars on the A12 near Colchester 

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.’

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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.

PC James Ireland tweeted after the bird was returned: ‘You may have seen earlier that this cheeky chap went for a wander up the A12.

The escaped bird was later pictured at home by PC James Ireland after it was safely returned

A police car is shown pulling away as the bird flaps its wings and watches the car leave

‘With help from Sgt Andrews and PC Hercules he is now safely back home. Our job isn’t all crashes and fines you know!’

It is not known where the bird came from or how it got on to the road.

Whitehouse Farm, which is a mile from the stadium, keeps emu’s among other animals. 

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.

It was rounded up by Highways England and Essex Police on the side of the main road

Whitehouse Farm, which is a mile from the stadium where the bird was spotted, has emu’s in its collection of animals

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