THE QEII Bridge was closed for more than two hours as police negotiators talked to a man threatening to jump into the Thames.

The 29-year-old man was spotted by crossing patrol officers at about 4am on Friday after he stopped his car at the highest point of the bridge between Kent and Essex.

Essex Police were called and an emergency closure of the bridge was ordered at 4.19am.

Traffic travelling to and from Essex each used one of the two Dartford tunnels but queues stretched back to the A2 junction in Kent as commuters battled to get to work, later stretching round the M25 as far as junction 4 at Orpington.

A spokesman for Essex Police said the bridge re-opened to traffic at 7am.

She added: “The man, from Croydon, was persuaded to come down and was arrested and taken to Grays Police Station for questioning. His mental health will also be assessed.”