A WOMAN who threatened to jump off a busy road bridge on Christmas Day was talked down to safety by police.

Concerned motorists reported the woman on the wrong side of the railings on the bridge above the southbound A19 between Acklam and Thornaby at about 4.05pm.

Trained negotiators were called and after almost three hours managed to talk her to safety.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Several motorists called to report a woman was on the wrong side of the railing at Mandale Roundabout above the southbound carriageway of the A19.

"When the police arrived, the woman was threatening to jump. Police negotiators attended the scene and officers closed off the southbound carriageway for a period of time while the incident was ongoing. The woman came down at 6.45pm and was taken to hospital."