A FATHER charged with causing traffic chaos after a man strapped himself to a busy road bridge has appeared in court.

The 33-year-old pleaded not guilty to causing a public nuisance when he appeared before Sunderland magistrates.

It follows an incident on Monday when a man strapped himself to the Wearmouth Bridge, in Sunderland, to protest for better access rights for fathers separated from their children.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded on conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on July 27