A CHICKEN plucked up the courage to cross the road to urge drivers to vote against Greater Manchester's transport referendum.

He cried 'fowl' at proposals for a congestion charge and strutted his stuff in Regent Road, Salford, wearing a sign that said Vote No to the Toll Tax.

Drivers looked baffled as the anti-charge protester, who gave his name as Colonel Kevin Peel Saunders, handed them leaflets dressed in a fancy dress chicken costume.

City centre insurance worker 'Kevin', 45, from Worsley, said: "I feel a bit cooped up in this outfit, but it's been worthwhile because the leaflets have just flown out of my hands.

"A lot of drivers have honked their horns. They know that, when the charge comes in, they'll be taxed for going to work. I'm just an average guy. It's one man against the system. But I do believe we can stop this."

He added: "I had the run of the road, but I wouldn't have to pay the charge anyway - because I'm a chicken. At least nobody told me to get stuffed."

The chicken stunt, daringly close to a fast-food chicken restaurant, was in support of protest group Manchester Against Road Tolls. Sean Corker, from the group, said: "We believe the Congestion Charge scheme is a turkey and nobody should support it in the run up to Christmas."

Protesters are campaigning for a 'no' vote in Greater Manchester's transport referendum. People will vote in a postal ballot in December on whether to accept the proposals. Voting papers are due to go out at the end of this month, with a voting deadline of December 11.

The bid would see more than £2.75bn ploughed into transport schemes, including £318m to set up a peak hour, weekday-only congestion charge. Some £1.2bn of the total would be in the form of a loan, paid back over 30 years out of profits from the charge.

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