POLICE could hardly believe their eyes when they saw a man travelling over the Itchen Bridge with a heavy rig of tyres trailing behind him.

They had rushed to the bridge in Southampton after concerned members of the public reported a man they thought was about to jump, but instead found an explorer in training for an Arctic expedition.

However, he was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon after officers found an extendable baton and an ice pick in his rucksack.

He was later released with a caution after he had explained he was preparing for a gruelling series of icy adventures.