TWO Highways Agency Traffic Officers based in Wellington made an unexpected appearance on Hugh Fernley Whittingstall’s TV show River Cottage after catching the celebrity chef picking apples on the side of the M5.

Officers Roy Bennett and Neil Townsend from the Chelston Outstation were featured on the show after spotting Hugh being filmed collecting fruit on the hard shoulder.

Hugh was working on an episode of River Cottage, where he was undertaking a challenge to make a three-course meal entirely for wild food. Other delicacies on his menu included stewed squirrel.

The officers were quick to point out that it is illegal to park on the hard shoulder in a non-emergency situation and Hugh apologised and moved his crew on.

Roy Bennett said: “To be honest we didn’t recognise Hugh at first. We stopped because it was obvious that there was people filming on the hard shoulder and we were concerned for their safety.

Neil Townsend added: “We’ve had quite a few comments on our television appearance but there is a serious point here.

“The hard shoulder is a dangerous place and should only be used in emergency situations, even by celebrities.”

On average around 50 people every year are killed or seriously injured in accidents while stopped on the hard shoulder.

The risk of a fatal or serious accident to an occupant of a vehicle stopped on the hard shoulder is about three times that of driving along the motorway.