A stag had to be put down after it leapt in front of a car in Kent.

The incident happened in Stone Street, Stelling Minnis, at about 5pm.

Village police officer PC Trevor Moody said the wild deer jumped from a field into the path of the car between Six Mile Lane and Curtis Lane on the edge of Lyminge Forest.

“The vehicle struck the animal, causing extensive damage to the front of the car,” he said. “The stag was badly injured. We called a vet who sadly had to humanely destroy it at the roadside.”

The road was closed for around 10 minutes while the incident was dealt with and the carcass removed.

The driver of the car, a woman, was badly shaken but otherwise uninjured in the incident, which happened on Thursday.