This is the shocking moment a runaway ostrich was seen sprinting along a busy road in China.

Footage shows the visibly confused flightless bird weaving between cars on Wenjiang Road in Chengdu, Sichuan, as motorists slowed down behind it.

Riders can be seen easing their speed to avoid hitting the bird as it switched lanes on October 19.

At one point, an electric car almost collided with the animal, but the driver managed to brake just in time to avoid an accident.

Witnesses said the ostrich had been wandering around the city with another bird.

Alarmed bystanders alerted the police, and authorities later managed to capture both animals and return them to the Ostrich Health Soup Pot restaurant.

Local media reported that the two ostriches had escaped from the restaurant, where they were kept for publicity and display.

A staff member said the birds were confined in an iron cage at the restaurant entrance before breaking free by kicking open their enclosure.

A beauty salon owner next door said: 'I saw a large iron cage being pulled to the doorway that day, and there were several huge ostriches inside.'

Ostriches are the fastest-running birds in the world, capable of maintaining speeds of 30–37 mph and sprinting up to 43 mph.