Swan confuses motorway for river

A SWAN has delayed traffic on a motorway in eastern France after it decided to land on the carriageway and take a rest in the outside lane.

Drivers were caught by surprise and had to suddenly slow down for the animal, which caused tailbacks on the A35 at Ostwald, between Colmar and Strasbourg, on Saturday afternoon.

One driver stopped and managed to usher the swan towards the emergency lane.

Motorway police captured the bird and released it by the banks of the Rhine. They believe the swan might have confused the wet road surface for a river.