The man who fell to his death from Avonmouth Bridge has been named as Paul Anthony Cowling.

An inquest into the 59-year-old's death was opened and adjourned yesterday.

Mr Cowling, from Bristol, apparently jumped from the bridge over the River Avon last Friday evening after six-and-a-half hours perched on the side of the M5, as police tried to persuade him to come back over the safety fence.

The northbound carriageway was shut during the incident, causing 30 miles of tailbacks.