POLICE closed off Longhouse Road in Chadwell St Mary this afternoon (Wednesday, 31 July) while colleagues and other emergency services deal with an incident.

The alarm was raised around 12.30pm when a man climbed on to roofs adjacent to the Chadwell St Mary Boxing Club and started throwing items including slates and bricks from on high.

Police attended in numbers and closed the road, drawing on support from Essex Fire and Rescue service who sent two appliances including an aerial platform ladder. Units from the East of England Ambulance service, including an incident support vehicle, were in attendance.

Ensign Buses running 88 and 63 routes along Longhouse Road were diverted via Claudian Way and Brentwood Road.

It appears the strategy of the emergency services is to wait out the incident, rather than try and force the man down. The road remained closed at 3pm. Emergency service press offices have been asked to comment and an update will follow once further information is available.