A desparate dad brought a city to a standstill yesterday by staging a protest perched precariously on the arch of a bridge.

Stephen Fletcher is distraught about a court hearing involving his children and had planned for a two-week stay at the very top of the 160ft Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland.

But at 10.15pm, he came down after his solicitor was called to the bridge, and Mr Fletcher was arrested by Northumbria Police.

The 33-year-old, of Rutherford Square, Red House, Sunderland, began his protest following a decision affecting his three children, aged between seven and 11, in the family courts.

Speaking from the bridge, he said: "This is a peaceful demonstration as me and my children are being let down by the secret family courts. I am not a member of any political party and I am doing this for my children, whose rights and safety are being ignored. I love my kids. This is all about the bairns. Throughout this country the law is loaded against fathers who want to see their children following relationship break-ups.

"The rights of the father is never an issue - because we don't have any rights. I love my children and I want them with me. I believe I have every right to ask for that, I am their father.

"But the law pays no account to that, it is weighted in favour of the mother every time. Women won equal rights with men after a long and hard struggle and now it is time for men to fight just as hard for our rights.

"Fathers are forgotten, put aside and their feelings aren't considered.

"I am a good talker, I have a voice and I will speak for every dad in Britain feeling the same frustrations as me."

Mr Fletcher, a builder and a diabetic who had taken enough insulin with him to last the fortnight, strapped himself on to the bridge and insisted he was not putting anyone at risk.

He said: "I want the public to be with me on this one.

"I don't want to cause harm or disruption to anyone.

"Hopefully people will understand what drove me to take this action."

His protest had brought Sunderland to a halt as the bridge, one of the main routes into the city centre, was closed off.

But it was later opened to traffic again, with drivers passing underneath, some oblivious to his protest.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said last night: "This man came down from the bridge peacefully. He has been taken to Southwick Police Station. No charges have been laid as yet."