A BUSY road was closed by police last night following concerns that a man was about to jump from a bridge.

Officers said they received a number of calls about a person sitting on the external railings of a footbridge over the A12, near Gainsborough Road in Leytonstone, at around 8.40pm on Thursday (November 8).

Police, the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service on the scene within minutes and the decision was taken to close the road in both directions as the man appeared unsteady.

At 9pm officers spoke to the man and managed to get him to safety.

The 23-year-old was then taken to hospital and the road was reopened.