Volunteers discuss Humber Bridge safety measures

The Bearded Fishermen, a mental health charity which runs wellbeing patrols on the Humber Bridge, says it has plans to increase its presence on the crossing.

The bridge’s footpaths were closed for four weeks last month following a sharp increase in incidents of suicide at the location.

They reopened to the public on 6 May.

According to the Humber Bridge Board, several new measures were put in place during the closure.

Further CCTV was installed and new signage offering support was put up.

A nearby ‘wellbeing hub’, located at the Humber Bridge Country Park, was jointly established by Mind and the Bearded Fishermen.

Workers say they are operating checks along the bridge five nights a week. The organisation says it aims to move to a nightly patrol.

A spokesperson added that they have helped four people on the bridge since it reopened to pedestrians.

Speaking to the BBC, Mick Leyland, from the charity, said:

“We came to a quiet room, we had a chat about the issues that were bringing him to the bridge in the first place.