Father ends Tyne Bridge protest

Simon Anderton scaled the bridge and began his protest on Father's Day

A father has climbed down from the top of the Tyne Bridge more than 62 hours after starting his protest.

Simon Anderton, a Real Fathers for Justice member, scaled the iconic structure on Sunday morning.

The 44-year-old had unfurled a "Happy Father's Day" banner and dangled an effigy of a hanged father underneath.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said the man was now being questioned by officers after being arrested for a public order offences.

He said: "The protestor made his own way down from the bridge to the footpath and has been arrested by officers from Newcastle area command."

Mike Kelly, a spokesman for Real Fathers For Justice, said the group had ordered Mr Anderton down after growing concerns about his health.

He said: "Simon climbed the bridge without any food, water and medication, and after three days he had begun to lose feeling in his fingers and was totally exhausted.

"The police allowed me onto the footpath below him and I shouted to him that it was time to come down.

"He wanted to go on with the protest but he understood our concerns about his health."

Five police officers manned the bridge around-the-clock during the protest.