Warning to drivers during deer rutting season

Drivers in the South East are being warned to take care during deer rutting season with more of the animals expected on the roads.

A 41% increase in accidents involving deer is expected nationally, with changing hormones making deer lose focus and stray onto highways.

Figures from the AA show instances of them being hit on the road have increased by a third since 2021 with incidents "particularly prevalent" in the region.

Matt Phelps from the Knepp Rewilding project said: "At this time of year the nights are darker and roads are damper anyway and then you add into that the rut and they're just a lot more likely to run in front of your car."