Severn Bridge: Man arrested after 'flying drone' which shut down road

Suspect clambered down 'voluntarily' when police arrived, officers say

A Hunter's Moon setting over the Severn bridge between England and Wales in the Severn Estuary, 23 December (PA)

A man has been arrested after he allegedly scaled the Severn Bridge and launched a drone from it, causing the road to be closed in both directions.

The man, in his twenties, has been accused of causing a public nuisance after police were forced to stop traffic in order to remove the alleged offender from the bridge.

Officers said the suspect descended “voluntarily” after they arrived.

Avon and Somerset Police were called to the M48 Severn Bridge, connecting England and Wales, at 8.10am on 31 December.

Officers closed the road between junctions 1 and 2 in both directions to deal with the incident.

A force spokesman said: “Officers attended the M48 Severn Bridge at 8.10am this morning after concerns were raised for a man who appeared to have climbed one of the towers and was flying a drone off it.

“The man, aged in his 20s, came down from the tower voluntarily and has since been arrested for causing a public nuisance.”

The bridge originally opened in 1966, with the Second Severn Crossing – now known as the Prince of Wales Bridge – completed in 1996.

Tolls in place on both bridges were scrapped on 17 December.

The disruption was minor compared to that caused by multiple drone sightings at Gatwick Airport before Christmas, when tens of thousands of passengers were left stranded.

Additional reporting by PA