M-way lorry crash chaos

Commuters faced a real fowl-up today as a lorry carrying hundreds of chickens overturned on a busy commuter link.

Motorists faced eggstra long six-mile tailbacks as flocks of the 3000 escaped birds made a bid for freedom on the A80 southbound from Castlecary.

Police and animal welfare officers were left in a real flap as they chased the wily birds, who seized their chance and scattered all over the carriageway, bringing traffic to a standstill.

The drama began at 4.30am when an articulated lorry overturned just before Castlecary Arches.

The driver, 45, from Gainsborough, is thought to have back injuries.

Central Scotland Police immediately closed the A80 to south-bound traffic - and ordered a chicken clean-up operation.

Specialist chicken caters from Noble Foods of Glenrothes were today drafted in to help.

But the birds, who were on their way to Lincolnshire, were in no mood to return to their cages and all other jobs sank quickly down the pecking order as officers desperately tried to contain the mayhem.

James Ireland, 43, who witnessed the clear-up operation, said: "There were still chickens running across both carriageways and policemen and workers chasing after them.

"They were basically trying to corral them into one place and put them back into boxes.

"The air was thick with feathers and chicken catchers muttering at the birds. I've never seen anything like it."

Drivers were told they would be unable to access the A80 Glasgow-bound from the M9, M876 or the M80.

On and off-ramps were also closed and a series of diversions put in place and the problem was not expected to be resolved until late afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Central Scotland police said at the time: "It is total gridlock chaos.

"We have had to close the road to south-bound traffic for safety reasons.

"Until all the chickens are rounded up we have to keep the south-bound carriageway closed.

"Drivers heading north will still face delays but it's nothing compared to the people travelling in the other direction."

"The lorry is blocking the carriageway and there are live chickens on the road."

Drivers were being advised to take the B816 through Bonnybridge/ Allandale and to rejoin the A80 at Castlecary.

One driver caught up in the chaos told how it had taken him nearly three hours to drive from Falkirk to Castlecary, a 10-mile journey.

More than 80,000 vehicles a day are thought to use the A80.

Central Scotland Police said the road is not expected to reopen for a "considerable time".

Publication date 11/10/07