A bird-brained cockerel had an eggstra special trip when he rode 100 miles to and from market - hanging on underneath a van.

The year-old bird managed to cling on to the axle as it sped from Oxford to Cheltenham and back at 60mph.

The cockerel jumped on board the van at owner John Goodey's farm in Mill Lane, Marston. He wasn't spotted until John returned to his home in Garsington and a friend heard a crowing sound from under the vehicle.

John's mates thought he had fitted a new anti-theft alarm, only to peer down and see the bird on his new perch.

John said: "Everyone was on their hands and knees to look at him.

"He did more than 100 miles without falling off. It is amazing. I have no idea how he clung on, but he was there as large as life."

The story began two nights ago, when John put the chickens in their shed.

The cockerel refused to go in with them and spent the night wandering the farm, crowing as usual at 5am.

John thought nothing of it and went to Cheltenham market yesterday (THURS) without realising the bird was underneath.

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