Birds are being hit by cars after eating flying ants.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service said it is receiving a number of calls about road casualties involving seagulls as a result of the annual "flying ant day".

This takes place every year and is normally over the course of a few days. It sees thousands of ants leave their nests to mate and set up new colonies.

As they fly in huge groups to do this, many are eaten by seagulls who become disorientated on the toxins these ants release.

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This leaves the birds in a "drunken-like" state and vulnerable to injury.

A spokesman for the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service in Whitesmith, near Lewes, said on Thursday: "There are lots of flying ants around.

"Please be careful as some birds eat them and become disorientated due to the toxins ants carry.

"We are already getting inundated with road casualty gulls. Please be cautious."

Sightings of these swarms of ants have been reported across both East Sussex and West Sussex over the last 24 hours.