A TRUCK driver from Kendal has won praise for his 'kind and selfless' actions after he parked his vehicle under a bridge that a teenager was threatening to jump from.

Tom Birkett, 35, brought his heavy goods vehicle (HGV) to a halt on the M62 in an effort to save the youngster from serious injury or death.

Although he has been commended by mental health charity Mind for his actions, Mr Birkett insisted he was just doing his 'good deed for the day'.

His compassion was in stark contrast to some members of the public who had been diverted by the incident.

"People were complaining about the fact that they couldn't get to Morrisons" said Mr Birkett, who drives for Farringtons.

He described one incident in particular as being particularly abhorrent.

Mr Birkett said a man driving a white van shouted, within earshot of the teen, that police at he scene should have just pushed him off.

"I have never been actual witness to anything that inhumane in my entire life," said Mr Birkett.

"I was astonished at the callousness of it.

"I just couldn't believe it - no compassion, no understanding that this was an actual human being. Not just that - a child."

Due to his high vantage point in his HGV, Mr Birkett was able to spot the unfolding incident on the bridge near Warrington with more than enough time to stop.

He parked his vehicle - which had a tarpaulin stretched over the tipper - between the hard shoulder and the first lane of the motorway, with his hazard lights switched on, to break the boy's fall if he had decided to jump.

He then walked up to the bridge to explain to police what he was doing.

Mr Birkett was full of praise for the police who eventually dissuaded the distressed teen from harming himself last week.

He said: "They somehow managed to walk this fine balance between keeping up spirits, having a bit of a laugh with each other, keeping morale up, but also being serious," he said.

"It was impressive to watch them.

"But these are just people doing this job."

A spokesman for Carlisle Eden Mind said Mr Birkett's actions were 'kind and selfless'.

"People often do extraordinary things when faced with other people who are in crisis," said the spokesman.

"Every human life is precious and the desperation that causes someone to contemplate ending their own life should never be underestimated.

"We can all help, by being prepared to engage, listen and respond when people are in that desperate place."

Cumbria Mindline is open every day of the year on 0300 561 000.