A MAN was led to safety after threatening to jump from the Humber Bridge.
Police negotiators spent almost two hours talking to the man, who had climbed on to an engineers' walkway underneath the bridge.
Firefighters, ambulance crews, the coastguard and Humber Rescue were also involved in the operation yesterday.
Coastguard officials stopped traffic either side of the bridge in Cliff Road, Hessle, leaving some customers at the Country Park Inn unable to leave.
People heading to the venue, which was the location for the Mail's Femail Live event, were also unable to get in.
Zoe Gillespie, manager at the pub, said: "It happened at our busiest time, so it did cause some disruption to people trying to get to us, but we are just thankful that no one was hurt.
"We did have some customers who couldn't leave and some who couldn't get in, but the police and coastguard were very helpful and kept us informed."
Emergency services were called to the bridge just after 11.10am to reports of a man threatening to jump off.
Just after 1pm, a man was led from the walkway back on to the bridge and in to a police van.
A spokesman for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, which sent two fire engines and its technical rescue unit to the scene, said: "The adult male had climbed under the bridge using an engineers' walkway. The fire service set up rope rescue equipment at the north parapet to help the rescue if necessary.
"A police negotiator persuaded the male to return on to bridge before being detained. The fire service was not required."
The Humberside Police helicopter, Oscar 99, hovered overhead while officers tried to talk the man down.
The Humber Rescue boat, which is based at Hessle Foreshore, was launched into the Humber.
Dave Roberts, of Humber Rescue, said: "The boat was launched and stood by while a person was on the bridge."
The bridge remained open during the operation.
A spokesman for Humber Coastguard said: "We received a call from the police asking for assistance because of a man on the bridge.
"We had the Humber Rescue boat on stand-by. The boat did launch but was not needed.
"The Hull coastguard team at the scene were providing assistance with safety cover and stopping traffic.
"They were assisting the police in any way they could."
