Police called to woman in distress on Leeds M1 motorway bridge

Police were called to the reports of the female on a bridge on the A61 over the M1 between Leeds and Rothwell on Thursday at around 3.45am.

Officers attended to find her on the wrong side of the railings and the motorway was closed in both directions between J43 and J44 for nearly three hours.

She was brought to safety at 6am and the motorway reopened for traffic at around 6.30am.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "At 3.48am today (11/2) police received a number of calls about a woman on the wrong side of railings on a bridge on the A61 over the M1 near to junction 44.

"Officers attended and both carriageways were closed.

"The woman was brought to safety at 6am and the incident concluded."

A spokesperson for Highways England said: "The M1 was closed in both directions between junctions 43 and 44 at around 3.50am and opened for traffic in both directions around 6.30am."

The number for Samaritans in Leeds is 0330 094 5717.

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