Suicide threat drama closes A12

MOTORISTS using the A12 faced long delays in the early hours of this morning after a man threatened to throw himself off a bridge.

Police were first called at about 1.15am and several officers were sent to the scene near the Danbury turn-off on the Chelmsford bypass section of the dual carriageway.

The 48-year-old from Maldon was eventually talked down.

A police spokesman said: “The A12 was shut in both directions for about an hour and forty-five minutes.

“The man was talked down and detained under the mental health act. The road was eventually reopened and traffic retuned to normal.”

One eyewitness said long queues of cars and lorries built up in both directions as the drama unfolded.

She said: “Apparently someone tried to commit suicide on the road bridge over the A12. When I eventually got through to turn off there were half a dozen or so police cars on the A414 bridge and also parked at the entrance to the park and ride.

“I do not know what happened to the suicide man, but I did see a young-middle aged man wrapped in an emergency blanket walking along talking to officers.”