TRAFFIC at the Blackwall Tunnel was brought to a standstill earlier this afternoon due to a dimwitted pedestrian who was using it as a shortcut.

Transport chiefs say the tunnel was shut down for a full 15 minutes once the wayward walker was spotted.

Police were sent into the tunnel to extract the person and carry out checks to make sure nothing untoward had been left inside.

Drivers, who are more used to car accidents shutting the tunnel, were left fuming by the delays, which caused traffic to back up into Greenwich.

A spokesman for Transport for London said the tunnel was quickly reopened and returned to normal.