A man was talked down by police from Rochester Bridge yesterday afternoon after he was found on the wrong side of the railings.

Officers and paramedics were called out to the bridge on the Strood side about 3.50pm after the man was spotted on the other side of the railings.

The man was then borough back to safety and detained by officers near a bench at the junction of Canal Road.

One motorist who drove by at the time of the incident but didn’t want to be named, said: “There was a man sitting on the bench with his head down and he looked upset.

“The police were talking to him there and patrol car was parked nearby.

“A police van then turned up and as I drove towards Rochester and the Esplanade I saw there was an ambulance parked up half way across the bridge.”

A spokesman for Kent Police added: “Kent Police was called at 3.49pm on Thursday, March 31, to a report of concern for the welfare of a man on Rochester Bridge.

“The man was reportedly on the wrong side of the railings.

“Officers attended and the man was detained at around 4pm. He has been taken into care by health professionals.”