An ostrich found wandering in the fast lane of a provincial highway outside Thessaloniki early yesterday morning was caught by police before it could could get hurt or provoke a traffic accident.

The bird was spotted trotting around on the Thessaloniki-Nea Michaniona road at around 2 a.m. yesterday by a surprised motorists who contacted the police. Two police patrol cars arrived shortly afterward and blocked off the area as officers used a length of rope to catch the errant ostrich.

The bird was then coaxed into the back of a truck and transferred to the grounds of a nearby breakdown assistance company where it is to be kept until its owner is found.

Police yesterday had no leads about where the ostrich had come from.