Police have criticised motorists stuck in a traffic jam for taunting a woman on social media as she threatened to jump to her death from a bridge on Saturday. 
 
 They said the remarks on Twitter were “totally unacceptable” and called on the public to be more understanding of people in distress. 
 
 The tweets were posted when the M3 was closed at Sunbury in Surrey for more than two hours before the woman was helped to safety from the footbridge. She was later detained under the Mental Health Act. 
 
 One Twitter user, Frankie Maicourt, tweeted to Surrey police: “Tell her to get on with it. Bloody ruining everyone’s weekend. Sat in this for an hour and a half now.” 
 
 Another user, Sara Russell, wrote: “To the person causing traffic jam on the M3/A316, you selfish, selfish twat.” 
 
 She added: “Surrey police, can’t you rubber bullet the jumper on M3/A316 and get the traffic moving? Or get net ready & charge her? Ridiculous.” 
 
 Surrey police responded by tweeting the reason for the delay and asking motorists to be patient. 
 
 The chief constable of Surrey police, Lynne Owens, became personally involved in a row over the incident. 
 
 Twitter user Richards Shears complained online that he was “not impressed” by the force’s handling of the scene: “Kids animals and motorbikes on the closed section. Gotta be a better way. Not impressed regardless of circumstance,” he wrote. 
 
 Owens replied: “Understand that. If we could think of better we’d honestly take it. We know how irritating road closures are!” 
 
 Inspector Julie Hillman said: “Having members of the public taunt somebody who is clearly in a distressed state as we did earlier today is completely unacceptable. 
 
 “I hope the public understand why it was necessary for us to close the road, as doing so helped save the woman’s life. 
 
 “I appreciate that being stuck in traffic is the last thing that people want to be doing, particularly on a weekend when the weather is hot, but on this occasion it was completely necessary to ensure officers saw this woman to safety.” 
 
 Following a backlash on Twitter about her comments, Russell later deleted the remarks and tweeted: “Goodness I am so sorry for any offence. A 50min journey took so long and you don’t know what my urgency was. I apologise unreservedly.” ||||| Motorists stuck in traffic taunted a distressed woman as police tried to talk her down from a bridge. 
 
 The M3 at Sunbury, Surrey was closed for more than two hours yesterday whilst emergency teams tended to the woman who was in distress. 
 
 Whilst Surrey Police were at the scene, one Twitter user tweeted the force’s online account: “Tell her to get on with it. Bloody ruining everyone’s weekend. Sat in this for an hour and a half now.” 
 
 Another person suggested that police shoot the suicidal woman with a rubber bullet: “To the person causing traffic jam on the M3/ A31, you selfish, selfish tw*t. 
 
 “Surrey police, can’t you rubber bullet the jumper on M3/ A316 and get the traffic moving? Or get net ready and charge her? Ridiculous.” 
 
 Surrey Police say that the woman was helped to safety and detained under the Mental Health Act. 
 
 Inspector Julie Hillman criticised motorists who had mocked the woman. She said: “Having members of the public taunt somebody who is clearly in a distressed state as we did earlier today is completely unacceptable. 
 
 “I hope the public understand why it was necessary for us to close the road as doing so helped save the woman’s life. 
 
 “I appreciate that being stuck in traffic is the last thing that people want to be doing, especially when the weather is hot, but on this occasion it was completely necessary to ensure officers saw this woman to safety.” 
 
 Anyone in need of confidential support can contact the Samaritans in the UK 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90. 
 
 Additional reporting by PA ||||| Flat out on the M1! The man who decided to do his IRONING on the motorway (which will not now be open in time for Easter) 
 
 
 
 By Daily Mail Reporter 
 
 Last updated at 12:29 PM on 18th April 2011 
 
 Overpass needs urgent repairs after blaze weakened it 
 
 
 
 Residents evacuated after fears that gas cylinders could explode 
 
 
 
 Thousands planning extended Easter break affected 
 
 Boris Johnson questions the 'madness' of the extended closure 
 
 
 
 It brings new meaning to going 'flat out' on the motorway. A man wearing a blue dressing gown and slippers made the bizarre decision to do a spot of extreme ironing in the central lane of the M1 this morning. 
 
 Thankfully there was no chance of the mystery man being run over, as it was on the southbound section closed off to vehicles over the weekend following fire damage. 
 
 
 
 The bare-legged man was captured pressing a white shirt at around 9am by a surprised ITN cameraman who had been covering the M1 closure. 
 
 Morning chores: A mystery man chose to take his ironing out on to the M1, which is still partially closed following a scrapyard fire 
 
 
 
 It was all part of an extreme ironing stunt where people do a spot of ironing in bizarre or remote locations for fun. 
 
 
 
 According to the official website, extreme ironing is 'the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt'. 
 
 It comes as Transport Minister Mike Penning confirmed the major traffic corridor may not fully reopen until late this week. 
 
 
 
 Mr Penning made the announcement yesterday as the Highways Agency faced criticism over the closure. 
 
 London Mayor Boris Johnson described the closure as 'health and safety madness' and questioned whether the Highways Agency had acted quickly enough. 
 
 
 
 His spokesman told the Evening Standard: 'He would never override anybody who says it isn't safe but he questions are we moving fast enough? Do we need to close the whole thing? 
 
 'As always with these things - as with the ash cloud - what he suspects is not foremost in the minds of those doing their analysis is the sense of urgency. Not just the disruption to people's lives but also the impact on the economy. 
 
 
 
 But he added that Mr Johnson 'does not underestimate that this was serious and that they're right to take the extensive action'. 
 
 
 
 With drivers planning to use the road to get to and from Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and yesterday’s London marathon, tens of thousands were forced to find alternative routes. 
 
 Now scroll down to see the video report 
 
 Jams: The M1 could remain blocked until the middle of the week 
 
 Two M1 northbound lanes were re-opened over the weekend but the motorway will not be fully opened until next week 
 
 The Highways Agency said today that all southbound lanes between junctions one and four will remain closed 'until further notice'. 
 
 
 
 The chaos followed a blaze at a scrap-yard under an elevated section of the motorway on Friday morning. 
 
 The fire caused significant damage to a road bridge’s structure and forced the closure of junctions one to four. One northbound lane reopened on Saturday evening and a second northbound lane was opened yesterday. 
 
 One southbound lane could open during the night and a second in the early hours of this morning, the minister said. 
 
 But the full three lanes of each carriage-way may not reopen until ‘the middle to the end’ of the week, he said, causing Easter traffic misery because parts of the structure remained unsafe. 
 
 
 
 Mr Penning told Sky News: ‘The bridge has been damaged by the fire quite badly and that means we have to make sure it’s safe for the motorist and safe for our workers underneath the bridge.’ 
 
 
 
 He said the hard shoulder had been particularly badly damaged by the fire. Engineers were working to make the bridge stable enough to carry the weight of traffic. 
 
 The southbound carriage, however, remained closed throughout Sunday 
 
 Flames: Firefighters tackle the blaze which ripped through a scrapyard under the M1 in north London 
 
 Advising motorists to use alternative routes, the minister added: ‘I’m very conscious that if people think the motorway is open tomorrow and we only have a couple of lanes, we will have congestion. 
 
 
 
 ‘So what I’m saying to them is, only use the M1 if you have to.’ 
 
 
 
 Earlier, he told BBC News: ‘It is going to be a frustrating time (for motorists) but the key is their safety. 
 
 ‘It’s not safe at the moment and that’s why it’s not open.’ 
 
 
 
 He said police were investigating the fire at the scrapyard, in Mill Hill, North London. 
 
 It also caused chaos for thousands of football fans travelling home from the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley as well as the Bolton vs Stoke game. 
 
 The Highways Agency said today: 'Engineers worked through the night to try to reopen southbound lanes. 
 
 
 
 'We are working in very difficult conditions in a confined space and have encountered unexpected difficulties in manoeuvring some of the large and heavy equipment required to reinforce the bridge deck.' 
 
 
 
 Deserted: The M1 was closed amid fears that gas cylinders near the scrapyard fire could explode 
 
 Trouble ahead: The coned-off M1, with the scrapyard where the fire started circled 
 
 The spokesman did not know how much the work would cost to make the bridge safe. 
 
 
 
 More than 40 firefighters battled to stop the flames spreading to nearby gas cylinders and up to 50 local residents were evacuated. 
 
 Officials had initially hoped that the country's main motorway would be re-opened by lunchtime today. 
 
 She said the southbound carriageway would remain shut between junctions one and four 'until it is safe to be reopened' 
 
 Engineers were today continuing to assess the damage caused to the motorway by the blaze, forcing it to stay closed for seven miles in both directions between junction one and four. 
 
 Firefighters douse the scrapyard in water amid fears that gas cylinders stored nearby could explode with the heat 
 
 With higher traffic volumes anticipated today the closure is likely to cause problems for those leaving London for an Easter holiday. 
 
 A spokesman said its engineers had been given access to the site of the fire underneath the motorway and would be assessing the extent of the damage. 
 
 They added: 'Depending on the results of the investigation, we will open the M1 as far as it is safe to do so.' 
 
 London Fire Brigade said the fire had worsened after crews arrived and a temporary hazard zone had been set up in case the cylinders explode in the heat. 
 
 The closure of the motorway one of the main routes into London from the North, has affected hundreds of fans flocking to Wembley for the FA cup semi-finals. 
 
 Emergency: The scrapyard fire worsened after fire crews arrived early this morning 
 
 Firefighters continue to cool the yard with water. Residents nearby were evacuated in case of an explosion Drivers who had planned to use the M1 may be rerouted onto the M6 and M40, increasing the possibility of heavy congestion. 
 
 Many more drivers who had been planning a bumper 17-day holiday, including back-to-back weekends and the Royal Wedding, could also be affected. 
 
 The M1 remained empty after the fire at the scrapyard closed a section of the motorway 
 
 The M1 closure comes after motoring groups warned of congestion at the beginning of the extended Easter break. 
 
 'This is definitely the start of the main getaway. It is the big build up now for Easter,' Paul Watters from the AA told The Times even before the blaze closed the M1. 
 
 
 
 On Twitter, motorist Andrew Crozier wrote: 'Stuck on the M1 for 4 hrs.' Another driver, Morafi, tweeted: 'Stuck on the M1 heading towards London — massive delays. Avoid.' And James Bugelli reported: 'People are getting out of their cars.' 
 
 A spokesman for travel news organisation Trafficlink said: 'The cylinders have been made safe and staff are now inspecting the bridge for serious damage. Depending on how badly damaged the bridge is, there is a possibility it may not reopen until tomorrow.' 
 
 
 
 Station manager Dave Bird said: 'The scrapyard is close to a residential area so a number of people have been evacuated as a precaution. We're obviously aware this is causing some disruption so our crews are working really hard to bring the flames under control.' 
 
 The Highways Agency said it was assessing the M1 viaduct structure near the site to see if there was any severe damage, and diversion routes were put in place. 
 
 A spokesman said: 'We are working as fast as we can to reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.' 
 
 Do you know who the mystery man on the M1 is? Contact us on alex.milson@dailymail.co.uk
– Drivers in a London suburb weren't exactly sympathetic yesterday to a suicidal woman who blocked traffic for two hours as emergency crews tried talking her down, the Independent reports. Amid the M3-motorway delay in Sunbury, Surrey, angry tweets came rolling out: "Tell her to get on with it," wrote one Twitter user to the police force's account. "Bloody ruining everyone’s weekend. Sat in this for an hour and a half now." "To the person causing traffic jam on the M3/ A31, you selfish, selfish tw*t." "Surrey police, can’t you rubber bullet the jumper on M3/ A316 and get the traffic moving? Or get net ready and charge her? Ridiculous." Police responded on Twitter by explaining the cause for delay and responding to criticism about the closure, the Guardian reports. "If we could think of better we’d honestly take it," wrote the chief constable of police in Surrey to one complaint. "We know how irritating road closures are!" But not everyone on the force played nice: "Having members of the public taunt somebody who is clearly in a distressed state as we did earlier today is completely unacceptable," said an inspector. Eventually first responders saved the woman, who is being under the Mental Health Act, and one angry tweeter dialed it down in response to Twitter backlash: "Goodness I am so sorry for any offence. ... I apologise unreservedly."