M42 closed for over 24 hours while police talked down man on bridge

Officers said there would be a “significant” threat to cars if they opened the road with the situation ongoing

Police have closed off the M42 for more than 20 hours after a man on a bridge threatened suicide (Getty Images)

Police have issued an apology to road-users after its attempts to talk down a man threatening suicide meant they had to close the M42 for more than 24 hours.

West Mercia Police released a statement this morning confirming that the man was still on the bridge, where he was first found at around 12.45pm yesterday.

This afternoon they confirmed that the “incident has been resolved” - and that the road would be reopened shortly. BBC reports said that man had been “safely detained”.

The area’s police commander Supt Kevin Purcell had said earlier that there was a “significant” danger to the man on the A38 bridge over the M42, and that officers had no choice but to close the motorway in both directions.

He said: “I would like to apologise to all motorists and local people who have experienced significant disruption as a result of this incident.

“Clearly we strive to resolve such matters as quickly as possible, but I would like to make it clear that the threat of harm both to the individual concerned and to vehicles driving on the M42 is so significant, that there was no alternative but to close the motorway and for it to remain closed until the incident has run its course.

“Once again I apologise for any inconvenience caused and would thank members of the public and local community for their patience and understanding.”