Emergency services were called to Lowestoft's bascule bridge yesterday afternoon after a man jumped off it at about 5.10pm.

The man was rescued by the town's lifeboat, which had been called out after a lifeboatman saw the man jump.

He was found by a bridge stanchion.

Lowestoft Lifeboat and the Lowestoft, Southwold and Gorleston water rescue teams were called out and police also attended the incident.

A spokesman for the Lowestoft, Southwold and Gorleston water rescue teams said: 'We were called out to reports of a person in the water by the bascule bridge, 'Despite rush hour traffic and freezing conditions both the lifeboat and coastguard teams were on scene within three minutes, and the person was removed from the water and taken away by ambulance.'

A spokesman for Yarmouth Coastguard added: 'We were called to reports of a distressed man on a bridge. 'When we arrived at the scene he had already entered the water but due to the close proximity of crews we managed to get him out of there quickly.

'He was extremely cold when rescued and he was taken to hospital.'

The man was released from hospital last night {February 06}