POLICE were called to a Hampshire railway station after a man was seen sitting on a bridge over the tracks.

The two-hour incident resulted in about a dozen officers converging on Eastleigh station amid fears that he might be planning to jump.

Rail services in the area were disrupted as police negotiators attempted to establish a dialogue with the man.

After more than an hour he was talked down with the help of a friend and taken to hospital.

The drama unfolded on a bridge that carries the B3037 Bishopstoke Road over the line just north of the station.

A police spokesman said officers were called to the scene last Thursday just after 10.30pm.

He added: "A 24-year-old man from Eastleigh was sitting on the railway bridge. Police were concerned for his welfare and he was eventually persuaded to come down with the assistance of a friend.

"He was taken to hospital in Winchester by ambulance around 1am."

Last night a South West Trains spokesman confirmed that the incident resulted in rail services being disrupted.