VIDEO: Police stand off in Bulwell - Man stays on roof despite freezing temperatures

A MAN spent more than 20 hours on the roof of a community centre in freezing temperatures during a stand-off with police.

The 27-year-old climbed on to the roof of the Red Lion Community Centre, Commercial Road, at 2.30pm on Thursday.

After spending the night on top of the building, he climbed down at about 10.30am yesterday and was arrested by police on suspicion of theft, burglary and criminal damage.

People living near the centre said the man had been threatening to jump, while others said people had been passing food up to him.

Jane Walster, 51, who has lived in Gilead Street for six years, said: "I got home at about 5.30pm on Thursday and saw Commercial Road cordoned off.

"I did not realise what was going off until my husband said a lad was on the roof of the community centre. It was so cold that night, he must have been freezing."

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A resident whose house overlooks the back of the building said: "I could see it all happening out of my window.

"When he came down he was checked over by a paramedic who had been standing by.

"He seemed delirious and said he had lost the feeling in his hands. I think that worried him and was part of the reason he came down."

Mother-of-four Tracy Spowage, 47, of Gilead Street, said she had first noticed the man on the roof as she was walking to collect two of her children from school at 3pm on Thursday.

She said: "His family shouted at him trying to get him to come down.

"He was just wandering about on the roof. I don't know what he's done to put himself in that situation."

Patrick Cassidy, 61, of Severn Street, said: "I saw all the police coming up here in vans. They then ran down the back alley near the community centre, and I heard the man shouting from the roof.

"We couldn't move for police cars and vans along here. I've never seen anything like it."

Police cordoned off Commercial Road between the Gilead Street and Coventry Road junction, and its junction with Severn Street.

Officers from Bulwell station, which is only a few yards away from the community centre, were at the scene.

After the man, who is from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was arrested, they cleared debris left on the road below the community centre.

The man remains in custody.