A MAN who fell from the IDR has prompted a police investigation into the incident.

A section of the road was closed Saturday afternoon following reports of a man who fell from an overbridge onto the busy road through the town.

The victim was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with 'very serious' injuries but police have this morning confirmed he is now in a stable condition.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "The man who fell from the bridge in Reading remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

"Police are investigating to establish the circumstances of the incident."

Emergency services including police, an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle were called to the scene at around 12.30pm and treated the man on the road underneath the overbridge at the end of Friar Street.

The northbound section of traffic heading towards Caversham was stopped and police officers were seen directing traffic onto the IDR ramp near Greyfriars Church before allowing it to re-enter the IDR near Weldale Street.

Distressed residents were also seen talking to Thames Valley Police officers and providing them with statements about what they had seen.

The road was reopened three hours later.