A Mid Sussex father's one-man protest at the top of a 120ft crane has cost London £50 million.

Dressed as Spider-Man, David Chick, 36, from Burgess Hill, has been living on the crane near Tower Bridge for five nights.

He wants a court order enforced, which will give him limited access to his three-year-old daughter, Lauryn, who he claims not to have seen for about eight months.

The action brought traffic chaos to the capital, with police sealing off Tower Bridge and surrounding roads in case Mr Chick fell from the huge metal structure.

Work at the building site in St Katherine's Dock has also ground to a halt, with 120 staff suspended from work.

Last night, Scotland Yard opted to reopen the roads, in response to mounting pressure from irate businesses and motorists.

Deputy chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority Richard Barnes said the protest had cost businesses and the city about £50 million, with £100,000 a day being spent on policing.

Mr Barnes said: "I would like him to receive a bill afterwards. If we can charge David Blaine, let us charge him as well."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "He is causing a huge inconvenience. The idea that an individual can hold London to ransom is completely unacceptable."

Mr Chick, a member of protest group Fathers 4 Justice, is determined to stay at the top of the crane for a week, despite the cold weather.

It is the second time he has climbed a crane at the docks site.

In June, he spent 45 hours on top of a 200ft crane.

He came down after talking to a Scotland Yard negotiator and was not charged.

This time, however, officers are waiting to arrest him for aggravated trespass and public nuisance.

A trained negotiator is trying to coax down Mr Chick, who has unfurled a banner reading "In the name of the father".

Yesterday, a delegation from Fathers 4 Justice led by founder Matt O'Connor also travelled to London to talk Mr Chick down from the crane.

Steve Chimarides, a Brighton member of the group, said: "He is up there because he feels nobody is listening to him.

"His problems are typical of fathers across the country who have been denied access to their children by a court system which has a huge bias against men."