'Ghost peacock' puzzles rescuers

Drivers are being told to watch out for a peacock running loose

A "phantom peacock" has been causing trouble to motorists in the early hours for the past two nights in East Sussex.

A woman called wildlife rescuers to the A267 near Five Ashes on Tuesday when she thought she may have hit the bird.

Then on Wednesday they were called to the same stretch of road by a lorry driver who also thought he had hit it.

Trevor Weeks, rescue co-ordinator, said he was not able to find any trace of the bird. "I'll be interested to see if we get another call tonight," he added.

'Really odd'

Mr Weeks said when he responded to the lorry driver's call he found him checking his vehicle to see if the bird had been caught underneath.

"We checked the wheel arches, looked at the road for signs of blood and feathers but could not find any trace of the bird."

He said: "This is really odd. We don't normally deal with escaped domestic pets, but as they had tried other rescue centres and not had a response we attended."

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) is warning people who drive late at night to be careful on the A267 at Five Ashes, and to be on the lookout for a peacock which could be running loose.

Road casualties increase at this time of year because nights are becoming darker earlier which causes animals to move about earlier, WRAS said.