TRAINS and traffic through Accrington town centre were stopped today after a man threatened to throw himself off the town's viaduct.

Police were called to the scene, which carries the railway over the town centre, after a passersby spotted the 37-year-old man.

Police said that when officers arrived at 2.50am the man began threatening to dive onto the road below from a ledge.

Inspector Julian Platt, of Accrington Police, said: "Our officers went up onto the viaduct and began talking to the man, trying to calm him down.

"After about 20 minutes, they convinced him to stand back and he has been detained for his own welfare.

"We contacted the railway authorities to stop any trains coming through and also stopped traffic beneath the viaduct until the incident had been dealt with."

Inspector Platt added the man appeared to have been drinking before climbing on to the viaduct.