Love birds found what they thought was the perfect nesting place to rear some chicks - inside a traffic light.

Bemused motorists, who stopped at the signals yesterday, were treated to a display of house building as the pair brought twigs and other materials to the nest.

Some drivers saw more than they bargained for as the birds did what comes naturally and turned it into a red-light district.

The ring-neck doves set up home in the amber light of the signals at the foot of Ditchling Road, Brighton, close to St Peter's Church.

Brighton and Hove City Council would have evicted the feathered friends for safety reasons but someone beat them to it.

When engineers and animal rescuers arrived yesterday afternoon only a few twigs remained and there was no sign of the birds.

Trevor Weeks, of the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service, said: "It was better the nest was moved now before eggs were laid and chicks fledged.

"When youngsters are old enough they drop out of the nest and, in this case, they would have landed in the middle of a busy road.

"Hopefully, the birds will find another, safer spot to nest before egg-laying begins."

Mr Weeks said traffic lights appealed to nesting birds because they offered shelter and warmth.

"They are ideal, providing the birds don't mind the light flashing on and off every few minutes."