A mother goose died protecting her goslings from traffic on the A3 despite suffering two broken legs in a “touching” final act, the RSPCA has said.

The goose and her young brood had strayed onto the A3 at dusk and were trapped in the central reservation near Esher.

The mother goose sat on her goslings to prevent them running in front of cars. The young geese were then rescued by a Surrey Police officer brandishing a net.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Carl Hone said: “As it was night and on a busy road, there were major health and safety risks but, with a prompt response from the police and two rolling road blocks later, the honking cars on the A3 were brought to a halt and I was able to run across and catch the mother and one gosling in a net.

“The other gosling tried to escape but, thankfully, a quick-thinking police officer managed to grab him before he disappeared.

“Sadly, it became apparent that the mother had sustained fatal injuries, including two broken legs. Her instinct to protect her young was very touching as she sat on them to keep them safe from the traffic.”

The mother was put down because of her injuries, and her goslings were taken to a wildlife centre on May 20.