Police officers in the UK shut down a busy dual carriageway as they searched the road for the severed penis of a severely injured man.

The 40-year-old was found in a ‘distressed’ state at the side of the road with serious wounds ‘to his groin area’.

Officers were called to the scene on the A66 in Middlesbrough just before 5am today.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is in police custody.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: ‘Police can confirm that the man found this morning on the A66 had wounds to his groin area.

‘A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.

‘Officers are continuing to investigate and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.’