Police will stay at the bridge until Mr Stanesby comes down

Jolly Stanesby, 35, a registered childminder from Ivybridge in Devon and member of the pressure group Fathers 4 Justice, climbed onto the gantry over the Tamar Bridge at Plymouth on Friday morning.

He was joined by three other protesters at the beginning of the demonstration. They were later arrested.

Police say they will not leave the area until he comes down. Traffic flow on the bridge is not being affected.

Protesters released

Fathers 4 Justice campaigns for equal parenting rights and a legal presumption of contact for parents and grandparents following separation or divorce.

When the protest started on Friday morning, it caused rush-hour traffic tailbacks on both the Devon and Cornwall sides of the bridge. Local businesses said the delays cost them thousands of pounds.

The three other protesters who originally joined Mr Stanesby were arrested on Friday.

Mother-of-one Jayne Woodman, 36, a human resources manager from Swansea, south Wales, was released without charge.

A 38-year-old man and a 46-year-old man, both from London, were released on police bail to return at a later date.

The demonstration on the bridge has prompted a review of security measures by its management team.

Mr Stanesby said he had enough supplies with him to stay on the bridge for a week.