NEGOTIATORS were called to a bridge above the A1 after a man told officers he was going to jump from it, police have revealed.

The incident followed an alleged shoplifting incident and a chase on foot from the post office in Byram, near Brotherton.

Police were first called to a report of a man who had tried to steal four bottles of wine from the post office at 6.20pm last Friday.

A male employee from the post office, which is also a licensed shop, gave chase but could not catch up with the suspect who ran off in the direction of Ferrybridge.

The employee, who did not wish to be named, said he returned to the store and phoned the police, and nobody was hurt in the incident.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said the suspect was then seen standing on a bridge over the A1(M) Ferrybridge Bypass.

When police officers from two forces arrived at the scene at about 7.15pm, the man climbed over the railings above the road and threatened to jump.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police attended the scene and a police negotiator was also called for when the man threatened to jump.

The Highways Agency closed the road, and by 8pm the man, who has not yet been named, had been arrested and taken into custody.

The police spokeswoman said an 18-year-old man from Knottingley had been arrested and charged with theft from a shop, released on conditional bail and was due to appear at Selby Magistrates’ Court next month.