A stowaway chicken was rescued by workmen after it jumped on the back of their lorry and survived a journey across a county at almost 60mph.



The plucky hen found itself on a real-life Chicken Run after hitching a ride with road maintenance workers as they went to repair potholes.

The team had picked up their truck from the depot of OLR Services in Hartwell, Northants., before travelling 25 miles to Irthlingborough, Northants.

Unbeknown to them, the inquisitive farm bird had hitched a ride after hopping into the back of their trailer for the 35 minute drive.

It was only after workers arrived that a resident spotted the feathered hitchhiker running around the cul-de-sac and asked them: "Is that your chicken?"

Together they worked to catch the runaway bird before she was put safely into the cab while workers cracked on with their pothole repairs.

Workman Luke Stinson shared his tuna sandwich and water in a tea mug with the chicken before transporting her back home at the end of the day.

Luke said: "I left the farm where these lorries are stored, drove past the A45 past Billing, to Irthlingborough to carry out some maintenance work on the roads. "

"We stopped outside a gentleman's house and the chap said ‘is that your chicken?'"

"I said what chicken? Whereupon, me and the helpful gentleman ran round the cul-de-sac chasing the chicken and rescued it."

"It's had a drink of water out my mug and we're going to take it back to the farm where it belongs."

Crew members believe the bird had been roosting on their truck near a hopper filled with roadmending grit.

Luke said: "It's done some miles and it's been sat on the back of the lorry going 56mph on the dual carriageway, so it's done bloomin' well to get here."

"I just can't believe it – it's a 25-mile drive."