Warning after drivers try to save motorway kittens

Drivers made dangerous attempts to rescue two kittens from a motorway, traffic officers have said.

National Highways was alerted on 15 October to people trying to catch kittens on the hard shoulder of the M27 near Southampton, Hampshire.

Officers eventually caught the pair after five days of efforts including a food trap and camera surveillance.

The authority said members of the public who stopped at the scene had put themselves and other motorists in danger.

The plan to catch the pair involved a trail of food which led to a cage supplied by the Cats Protection charity, National Highways said.

After two days, a black and white kitten was trapped. It took a further three days to catch the ginger fellow wanderer.

Traffic officer Karen Reed said: "I cannot thank those working at the South East Regional Operations Centre enough.

"They kept checking the camera day and night and keeping us up to date with any sightings.

"Our roads have a lot of fast-moving traffic, so it is crucial that if you see an animal on a motorway, never put yourself in a dangerous situation."

The kittens have been adopted by Ms Reed and one of her colleagues.