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A protestor who spent more than a week atop the Tyne Bridge has handed himself in to police, almost five days after climbing down.

Dad-of-five Simon Anderton scaled the landmark on Fathers Day and hoped to remain for a fortnight, to protest against what he claimed is unfairness in the family courts.

But amid torrential rain and thunderstorms he ended his stay on Wednesday, with his supporters “betraying” him to authorities before he could resume his demonstration.

At the time the 56-year-old told Northumbria Police he would report to them the following day, after he had cleaned himself up and had a good night’s sleep.

But it took until 3.15pm on Monday afternoon for the labourer to visit Forth Banks Police Station in Newcastle and face the music for his week-and-a-half-long stunt.

“Simon wants to thank everyone for their support in this campaign,” a friend told The Chronicle. “And hopefully that support will remain in place during whatever happens next.”

It is believed that Simon was interviewed by police with a duty solicitor present, and released without charge, but that police will “be in touch".

The end of the protest led to some disagreement between Simon and some of his close supporters, including Real Fathers For Justice co-founder Leigh Davison.

But the 44-year-old said it had been a difficult decision to end the protest, but he feared for his friend’s safety.

“It was a very difficult decision to call an end to the protest when Simon clearly wanted to return to the bridge,” said Leigh said.

“I have come in for a little personal criticism for my actions in alerting authorities he was down but my conscience is clear.

“Seeing a man on the edge isolated for over a week in an extreme environment, his hands were ripped to shreds and infected; the bridge was wet and dangerously slippy following one of the worst storms in recent memory

“I’d rather lose his friendship than watch him lose his life. The stakes were too high to take any further risks.

“I hope in time Simon reflects on the experience and sees the positives of what he has achieved and the strong support and following he has gained, it is a measure of the man that I think he feels he has let people down by ending it before reaching his target of two weeks.”