'Hot Fuzz' swan detained for being motorway menace

A policeman in a yellow high-vis jacket holds a swan in a similar jacket beside a motorwayImage source, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
Image caption,

Police said they were relieved to find that "it was just the one swan actually"

  • Published

Police have detained a swan that landed on a motorway, in a scene reminiscent of the comedy film Hot Fuzz.

Hampshire police received reports of swans causing a hazard on the M3 on Wednesday.

Borrowing a line from the film, they said: "Officers were relieved to find it was just the one swan actually."

The swan was given a clean bill of health by vets in Winchester, who said it had probably mistaken the road for water.

Posting on Facebook, Mildmay Veterinary Hospital said: "We had an unexpected visit earlier today from the police who had rescued a young swan from the M3.

"After closing the M3 they were able to safely secure 'Craig' and brought the bird for a full check over with vet Nikki.

"Happy to say, Craig was assessed and deemed fit as a fiddle and the police released it shortly after the visit."

In the film, a police sergeant played by Simon Pegg who is adapting to life in rural England, is tasked to capture an "escaped" swan, which poses a road hazard in country lanes.

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