Mannequin found hanging from Hythe bridge with bag over its head mistaken for real body
Police have criticised the hoax for wasting emergency services' time.
Police are appealing for witnesses after reports a body was seen hanging from a railway bridge near Southampton.
On closer inspection, officers found it to actually be a mannequin with its hands tied and a bag over its head.
They were called at about 10.23pm on Friday (11th April) to the train bridge near Hythe fire station, on New Road.
It caused a lot of distress to members of the public who saw it, due to how life like the mannequin was.
It also meant that 14 emergency services personnel were needlessly called to the scene from the police, ambulance and fire services.
Incidents such as this could prevent the services helping members of the public who really need it.
Police urge anyone with information about who may have staged the hoax to come forward.