Woman threatens to jump off rail station roof

She had clambered over the barrier on the Station Road side of the footbridge and police spent more than an hour talking to her before she finally agreed to climb back to safety.

Officers cordonned off the bridge with tape while they persuaded the woman not to jump. They were joined by a group of her friends.

Sergeant Trish Reeve-Fowkes said she and colleague PC Rob Knight were not really able to establish what was troubling the girl, who was in her early 20s.

As she balanced on the unstable roof she spoke on a mobile phone and kept approaching the edge and swinging her arms as if preparing to jump.

An acquaintance of the girl appeared in Station Road and told her she would speak to her if she climbed back on to the bridge.

It was then that she allowed officers to haul her to safety.

Sgt Reeve-Fowkes said: "As soon as she came back over we put her in a car and took her to the Conquest Hospital.

Railtrack switched off the live rail in case the woman decided to jump.