Trains delayed by the wrong sort of ... bird

COMMUTERS might have thought they have heard all of the excuses for delays but rail users heading out of Rotherham Central station got a new one to add to the never ending list today - a swan near the line.

Feathers began to fly after the barmy bird made a poor landing on the wrong side of a fence between the railway and the River Don at Aldwarke Junction.

It couldn’t get over the fence and instead plomped itself down within six feet of the tracks.

Train drivers were warned to slow down and ten trains had to put on the brakes – leading to a total delay for travellers of 50 minutes – after the witless waterfowl was spotted at 10.30am.

The RSPCA came to the rescue and moved the swan nearer to its natural watery habitat.