AN ELDERLY man died today when he jumped from a bridge. Horrified motorists saw him leap from the Oakfield Lane Bridge in Dartford onto the coast-bound carriageway of the A2.

The incident happened at about 9.50am. One of the motorists who witnessed the tragedy, receptionist Lisa Bond, said: "I saw a man standing on the bridge and saw his body drop to the ground. I felt sick inside when I realised what had happened."

North Kent Police are treating the man's death as suicide. Spokesman Martin Pearce said: "An elderly gentleman jumped onto the hard shoulder. He was killed instantly. We are now trying to identify him."