An injured tawny owl was rescued after taking up an unexpected roadside perch on the A46 near Owthorpe.
Officers were called to the scene after reports of what police described as a “feathered flap” involving the dazed bird.
Before officers arrived, a kind-hearted member of the public had already stepped in and safely picked up the injured owl, keeping it out of harm’s way at the side of the busy road.
The bird then became one of the more unusual passengers to travel in a police car, as officers gave it a lift to the RSPCA under careful supervision.
After its brief career as a traffic stopper, the tawny owl is now being cared for by the team at Brinsley Wildlife Animal Rescue.
The owl will receive a full check-up and plenty of attention, with hopes it can eventually be returned to the wild — where it can get back to its usual business of ignoring speed limits and silently judging people from trees.
Police thanked the member of the public who helped the bird, saying the incident proved that in Owthorpe, even the wildlife gets first-class service — and occasionally, a lift in a patrol car.
