A MAN was arrested this morning after threatening to jump from a bridge and on to the busy A1.

The 35-year-old man, believed to be from the Darlington area, was seen acting suspiciously by motorists around 8am on the Birtree roundabout, on West Auckland Road.

Police said the man was spotted on a number of occasions walking towards the bridge before moving back from the railings.

Officers spent 45 minutes talking to the man, causing traffic tailbacks of nearly a mile.

After persuading him to come down, the man was arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital.

A police spokesman said: “He was threatening to jump off the bridge but made no attempt to do so.

“He was feeling down and depressed and was not well.

“Officers spoke to him and helped him get down, before arresting him.

“The man, who is local, but originally from the south, was then taken to a hospital in Darlington for treatment.

“Although there were traffic tailbacks, the queues eased quickly once the man was detained, causing little delay for motorists.”