A PROTESTER dressed as Spiderman who stopped traffic after hanging from the Wessex Way flyover at Cooper Dean has been arrested.

The road was closed southbound for two-and-a-half hours after the man hung a sign from the flyover.

Police brought the man down at 2.10pm and arrested him on suspicion of being a danger to road users.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “We received reports at 11.37am that a man was hanging off the bridge trying to put a banner up.”

Thousands of people using the central road into the town to watch the last day of the Bournemouth Air Festival were held up in the drama.

Deputy mayor for Bournemouth Phil Stanley-Watts said he saw the man while out on a run.

“He was hanging precariously over the bridge as he hung up a big banner,” he said. “There were lots of police about and the traffic will be awful.”

A Fathers4Justice spokesperson said: “We aren’t aware of this protester, but we welcome any peaceful protest."

Police said the protester is 31 years old and from Poole.

A statement released earlier today reads: "Officers are in attendance and are negotiating with him. A diversion is in place for the A338 southbound traffic which is now flowing freely.  

The diversion is via the Cooper Dean roundabout and slip road leading back onto the Wessex Way into Bournemouth. Officers are monitoring the situation."