A swan brought traffic to a standstill on the M4 - including writer Jon Ronson who said it was the “greatest day of my life.”
The bird was on the carriageway of junctions two and three in Heston this morning, causing drivers to be stuck in traffic jams for up 20 minutes.
The Highways Agency were called to the drama at 7.34am and attempted to scoop the swan up from the carriageway.
He was rescued by 7.50am and taken to a nearby sanctuary in Windsor.
A spokeman said: “He was on the carriageway when we rescued him in the bushes on the hard shoulder, he may have walked over.
“We lowered speed limits down to 50mph initially just for safety reasons, then we lowered the speed limits to 30 after that.”
Mr Ronson, author of The Men Who Stare at Ghosts, was caught up in the spectacle and tweeted an Instagram image of the swan to his 878,000 fans.
TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp wrote: “A swan takes her time on just off junction six of the M4. Perhaps she’s off to see her boss HM The Queen.”
Phillip Schofield also warned his followers to avoid the M4 as “There’s a swan out for a walk.”
The incident was dealt with by the Highways Agency by 8.10am and caused no substantial traffic delays.
