A REVIEW of the safety of motorway bridges in East Lancashire is under way.

Bosses at the Highways Agency, which maintains the bridges, said they were reviewing the safety of scores of bridges after an ‘unusually high’ number of incidents.

There have been five incidents prompting major police operations on the M65 in the past 18 months.

Yesterday when a 31-year-old man was talked down by police from a bridge at Stanhill Lane between Knuzden and Oswaldtwistle.

And last week a woman was left in a serious condition after apparently walking in to the path of traffic at the M65 in Burnley.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “Anything that can be done to prevent these situations in the future will be done but it is a very tricky situation without a straightforward solution.

“Finding a physical solution is not always the answer.”

The Samaritans charity is calling for measures to stop suicidal people attempting to jump.

Michael Gerrard, deputy director of the East Lancashire Samaritans, said safety must be improved.

Among the options being considered are notices from the Samaritans in known hotspots; higher fences and barriers to prevent access; and more education and support to help depressed people.