A TEENAGER brought part of town to a standstill and held up trains on the East Coast main line after he threatened to throw himself off a bridge.

Police were forced to close off a section of Yarm Road when a youth was spotted standing on the edge of a railway bridge close to Darlington train station.

Trained negotiators were called to the scene, just after noon on Saturday, but officers managed to coax the youth down from the bridge before they arrived. He was arrested and taken to Darlington police station before being released without charge.

The incident caused traffic delays in Darlington and trains were delayed between London and Edinburgh for an hour while police talked to the youth.

Inspector Sue Collingwood, of Darlington police, said: "We had to cordon off part of Yarm Road while we tried to talk the teenager down.

"He was emotional and agitated and he was threatening to throw himself off the bridge, so we are pleased the incident passed peacefully."