A swan brought traffic to a standstill at Springfield Road in Chelmsford this morning after refusing to move from the centre of the road.
The white bird was spotted by Sarah Roberts, who tweeted: " random swan in the road, refusing to move."
Essex Police and the RSCPA were called and the bird was eventually removed from the road, with onlookers saying it remained there for around one hour.
It is believed it was taken to Hylands Park.
It is not uncommon for swans to land busy roads according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), who state: "It is thought that thermals and wind turbulence over roads may knock the swans off balance and bring them down onto road surfaces.
"They need a long run before taking flight, and may be unable to take off if there is insufficient space."
