A heron is dicing with death by sitting at the side of the A27 Shoreham flyover and watching the traffic go by.

Motorists, who have called animal rescue groups in their droves, have been assured the bird is healthy and can fly away.

The handsome creature has simply taken to hanging about, watching the traffic.

A number of animal groups, including the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (Wadars) and the RSPCA have been inundated with calls from members of the public worried about the bird.

Mature student Ros Froud, from Steyning, has been regularly travelling the route to the Falmer campus of the University of Sussex.

She contacted the RSPCA and West Sussex County Council's Highways Department to express concerns about the heron.

She said: "It's quite an alarming sight when you see him standing at the side of the road. Motorists slow down to look."

Billy Elliott, rescue officer for Wadars, reassured motorists the heron could fly. He visited the bird several weeks ago and it flew away.

He said: "It is a danger but there is obviously a food source there. We can't go up there and chase him off as he can fly and will just come back. He is dicing with death, though."