Preston fire crew rescue man from roof after five-hour stand-off

The drama began around 9.30pm last night when the man was spottted on top of a building in Northgate, Blackburn.

Police say the man appeared to be armed and was making threats to both them and himself.

Armed officers attended and a number of roads in the area were sealed off during a tense stand-off.

Trained negotiators were called in to talk to the man and eventually, around 2.30am, the situation was brought to a peaceful conclusion.

A fire brigade spokesman at Preston said: “We were called in with our aerial platform and, assisting the police, we helped bring him down safely.”

A 25-year-old local man was later detained.