A WOMAN threatened to jump off New Bridge in Ayr on Saturday morning and had to be talked down by emergency services.

It is understood that the 29-year-old was standing on a parapet on the wrong side of the bridge for several hours. It took between two and a half to three hours to talk her down.

Fire station manager Derek Davidson, explained how the fire brigade, paramedics and police attended the situation.

He said: "The woman was standing on a small ledge on the wrong side of the wall. She was on the west side on a ledge, facing towards Ayr Harbour.

"We were ready to move if she did jump into the water. We had a RS5, a water sledge which were at the back of the bridge so as not to worry her. 

"There was also a Zodiac boat, two boats from the RNLI at the bottom of the harbour as well as the coast guard who were at the North Harbour side.

"All four sides were covered just incase she was going to jump in."
Various members of the emergency services spent time trying to calm the lady down but it was the police negotiations team who eventually managed to persuade her to come onto the right side of the bridge.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "There was an incident at New Bridge Street in Ayr at 10.20am on Saturday, December 3. Police were called to an incident involving a 29-year-old woman.

"Emergency services attended and the woman was taken to Ayr Hospital for treatment."

A local source also said that some nearby roads were closed during the incident.