A swan mistook rain-slicked M1 for water, causing a brief halt before being safely rescued.

A swan landed on the M1 motorway near Northampton on November 19, causing a brief traffic halt as drivers stopped to avoid it. Mistaking the wet road for water due to rain and haze, the bird moved across the carriageway before being safely captured by National Highways officers using a swan bag. The rescue took about 10 minutes, with no injuries reported. The swan was then transported to a nearby lake at Junction 16, where it was seen swimming freely. Officials noted such incidents, while rare, can occur under certain weather conditions.