Man charged with murder bid by trying to push police officer off A1 bridge

A 28-year-old man has been charged with attempting to murder an on-duty police officer after allegedly trying to push him off a bridge onto a busy road.

The officer from Northumbria Police had been responding to a report of an assault on a woman yesterday at 6.24am in East Denton, Newcastle, when the man fled the scene.

He gave chase, eventually catching up with him on a bridge over the A1, where the police say he tried to force the officer over the side of the bridge.

A police spokesman said: "Thankfully, the officer was able to safely detain the man and he was arrested.

"The 28-year-old was later charged with attempted murder of a police officer, assaulting a police officer and assault."

The man is due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates' Court today.