A MAN who clambered onto a rooftop in Weymouth and stayed there for almost three hours sparked a major rescue operation while also causing disruption in the roads below.
Police officers, fire crews and paramedics were called yesterday morning after a man believed to be in his 30s was spotted 'running' on top of the third-storey building on the corner of Abbotsbury Road and Ilchester Road.
READ MORE: Emergency services in attendance at Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth
Abbotsbury Road was shut as emergency services sprung into action by accessing the rooftop via the entrance to Wessex Gasworks in Ilchester Road.
Officers were on scene speaking to the man, who at around 9am was seen sitting on the rooftop.
The man was eventually brought down by emergency services just before 10.30am, while taken into the care of an ambulance crew, which left the scene at 10.50am.
One eyewitness living in Ilchester Road, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "I went outside around 7.30am after hearing sirens and looked up to see a man running on the rooftop.
"I later overheard a firefighter speaking to him who said they didn't want to arrest him, but they wanted to get him down and take him to hospital.
"The man wasn't causing any trouble, but it did cause chaos with the traffic on what's usually a busy road.
"I've seen around five police cars and two fire engines - so it's also caused strain on emergency resources."
A police cordon was put in place in Abbotsbury Road just before 8am, according to eyewitnesses, from the Newstead Road junction to the Corscombe Close junction near the Catholic church.
Police officers and special constables on the scene advised pedestrians to use the alley way off Newstead Road to access either end of Abbotsbury Road.
Business owners gave their views on the incident as it unfolded.
The manager at Boots chemist in Abbotsbury Road, Teresa Stoodley said police were escorting customers to the store from the cordon to pick up their prescriptions.
READ MORE: Council responds to complaint about removal of traffic lights in Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth
Carolyn O'Brien, who works at The Salon in Abbotsbury Road, said: "Around 9am, we were being strongly advised to tell customers to rearrange appointments, but soon after several of our customers were being escorted from the cordon to our salon.
"The salon was away from the scene so we didn't see what was going on, but I'm glad the man is safe and I hope he gets the help he needs."
Steve Biggs, who runs SB Tools and Fixing in Abbotbury Road, said: "Police officers were guiding customers to my shop."
A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police received a report at 7.34am on Thursday 29 July 2021 of a man on the roof of a building in Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth.
"Officers attended, along with the fire service, and efforts were made to engage with the man.
"He was brought to safety and he received the appropriate care.
"The road closures were placed at 7.45am and were lifted at around 10.45am."
A spokeswoman from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were there in support of a police incident."
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