The suspect was said to have been breaking masonry off the building since the early hours of the morning

Credit: Nigel Howard

At least 16 police officers with riot shields and helmets were in a stand-off with a man who appeared to be throwing chimney pots and aerials from a roof in west London on Monday.

The suspect was said to have been breaking masonry off the building since the early hours of the morning,with police having been called to reports of a man on a roof in Russell Gardens Mews,Brook Green,at 4.21am.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group,which specialises in public order policing,remained on the scene.

Witnesses said the man,who was wearing a high-vis jacket,and a green and white woolly hat,dark trousers and casual shoes,was throwing objects to the ground.

Scotland Yard said: “He threw a number of items down onto nearby railway tracks. Officers are trying to speak to him following concerns for his welfare.”

The man holds a chimney pot as he stands on the roof

Credit: Nigel Howard

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group remained on the scene

Credit: Nigel Howard

Transport for London said it had suspended the Overground line between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction as a precaution.

London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters are supporting colleagues from the Metropolitan Police at an incident on Russell Gardens Mews. The brigade was first called about the incident at 10.19,and crews from Hammersmith and Paddington Fire Station are currently on scene.”

London Ambulance Service said: “We have an ambulance crew and an incident response officer on standby at the scene,alongside colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade.”