Man comes down off roof after 8-hour stand off with police

A man came down from the roof of a building after an eight-hour stand off with police in Bolton on Monday (December 16).

Emergency services, including paramedics and the fire service, were called to reports of a man on a roof of an apartment block near Turton Street at around 11.10am.

The Manchester Evening News understands police had initially been called to the flats, on Turton Court, to reports of a break in at a property, before the man scaled the roof of the building.

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Turton Street was blocked off, with emergency vehicles lining the road. The incident continued for over eight hours, until the man eventually came down 'voluntarily' at around 7.40pm.

After a number of hours, shops at the retail park were evacuated as the cordon was extended. Surrounding roads were also cordoned off, as many residents found themselves unable to access their homes amid the police response.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police, along with fire crews, incident response units and paramedics were in attendance as specialist negotiators used an aerial ladder to try and talk the man down.

A resident of Turton Street told the M.E.N he first noticed the police scene at around 2pm. “I didn’t know anything was happening as I was inside,” he said. “I came out and the police were everywhere. Then I saw him on the roof."

"I swear to god it’s always them flats” said another woman, who couldn't access her home in nearby Dean Court. "I’ve lived here five years but never got home the other way. I've only had five hour sleep."

Traffic built up on nearby A666 and St Peter's Way near the retail park at rush hour as access to Turton Street was blocked. Greater Manchester Police have not yet confirmed any further details or if any arrests were made.

A member of the public called the police and the situation shortly after 'escalated' into the man climbing onto the roof in a 'standoff', the M.E.N was told.

A spokesperson for GMP said: "Emergency services are currently responding to reports of a man on the roof of a premises at Turton Court, Bolton. A scene is currently in place around Cross Street.