A badger found flirting with traffic on a busy main road has been saved thanks to a joint effort from police and drivers.

Officers were called to Blue Bell Hill, the main road linking Medway and Maidstone, yesterday afternoon after receiving reports of a distressed animal.

They arrived to find a badger playing a dangerous game of chicken with the traffic.

Together with some passers-by officers managed to get a lorry strap around the disorientated creature and lure him into the grass verge.

Police looked after the badger for around 30 minutes until volunteers from Kent Wildlife Rescue Service arrived.

Team member Lorraine St John travelled from Sheerness to come to the animal's aid.

She said: "I don’t know who was more scared the badger or the police!

"It had been playing chicken with the traffic. Once secured we were able to assess that the badger has damage to his eyes. A full assessment will be carried out by our vet in the morning but for now he has been medicated and settled down for the night."

She suspects the damage was likely caused by an earlier collision with traffic, adding: "I think it might have got hit by a car. He was completely disorientated."

Sadly she says this is not the first badger distress call she has been called out to in recent weeks.

As she explains, these sorts of incidents are on the increase, citing increased badger culls and the destruction of habitats as likely reasons.

The badger has now received antibiotics and painkillers for its wounds and will be taken to see a specialist tomorrow.

She added: "He is nice and warm. It is probably like a hotel for him now compared to what he has been through."

Kent Wildlife and Rescue Service is on 24-hour call to rescue, save and protect all wildlife in trouble in Kent.

Based in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, it can be contacted via its Facebook page or email lorraine@kentwildliferescue.org.uk

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