Avon and Somerset police have apologised to motorists who were left stranded on the M5 for more than six hours after the Avonmouth Bridge in Bristol was closed the ahead of the August bank holiday weekend.

As reported by the Bristol Evening Post, the M5 was shut on Friday, August 28, due to concern for the safety of Paul Anthony Cowling, 59, who later died after apparently jumping into the River Avon.

Police closed all four-lanes of the northbound carriageway as they tried to talk Mr Cowling down from the edge of the bridge.

The decision came in for criticism from road users who were left stranded without food or water, many of whom thought one lane could have been left open.

But the police stood by their decision, which they said they took for the safety of Mr Cowling, motorists and the emergency services at the incident.

The head of the Roads Policing Unit, Andy Pullan, has now said: “Let me apologise to all the road users who were caught up in the traffic at Avonmouth last weekend.”

A queue of 35 miles built up during the incident, stretching back to Bridgwater in Somerset.

As is procedure for a death following “police contact”, the incident has been voluntarily referred by the force to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mr Pullan said the constabulary would also be carrying out a full-scale review of its procedures.

“People wanted to know why we didn’t have an officer walking down the hard shoulder informing them of what was happening,” he said. “That is just not practical – it is not what officers are there for.

“Any decision to close the motorway is not taken lightly. One of the main things people have been raising is how we actually inform drivers of what is actually happening.”

The incident was also raised by Lord Stoddart of Swindon, who has submitted a written question asking the Government to investigate the closure of the motorway.

He said: “I was greatly concerned by the length of the closure because of the misery it caused in delays, inconvenience and hardship for thousands of motorists and their families as well as possible legal implications for HGV drivers.

“The tailback of traffic was over 35 miles long and the Highways Agency had to supply water to some of the motorists, especially those with children, who were left stranded on a very warm day. This could not have happened at a worse time, with bank holiday traffic on the move ahead of the long weekend.”

An inquest into Mr Cowling’s death has been opened and adjourned.