3,000 chickens paralyse central Scotland

Lorry crash poultry pandemonium

A jack-knifed lorry this morning brought much of central Scotland to a standstill after its cargo of 3,000 chickens broke loose onto the A80 near Haggs, paralysing road traffic and "causing huge tailbacks across the Forth Valley".

According to the BBC, the vehicle in question discharged its load at 4.30am on the road's southbound carriageway. The resulting pandemonium, during which around 400 chickens were killed, "caused widespread disruption for motorists travelling to Perth, Stirling, Dundee, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, with severe tailbacks on the M9 northbound Kinnaird to Pirnhall route".

Vets attended the scene, accompanied by a specialist team from Noble Foods in Glenrothes, and eventually managed to recapture the survivors. While the operation was in progress, police "appealed to motorists on the north bound carriageway not to slow down to watch the recovery operation and to refrain from taking photographs while driving".

The cops also took the opportunity to "remind drivers that using a mobile phone while driving is illegal", leading to suspicions that YouTubers may be about to enjoy shaky mobe-captured footage of the chicken carnage.

The ruffled poultry were reportedly transported to Noble Foods' processing plant, and the Scottish SPCA not unreasonably expressed concern for their welfare. Spokeswoman Doreen Graham explained that "many of them could be in shock and may die".

The lorry's 45-year-old driver, meanwhile, suffered "serious back injuries" in the crash. ®