Emergency services have rushed to a notorious UK prison, after an inmate was spotted climbing onto the roof of the high security jail.
Several people reported seeing a prisoner climbing onto the roof of HMP Manchester, commonly referred to as 'Strangeways' on Wednesday, around 4.30pm.
Police negotiators arrived at the scene to try and talk the man down around 5pm, with the fire service and an ambulance also in attendance, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The Ministry of Justice said officers were communicating with the man, who has not been identified, adding that he had not made any threats to himself, other inmates, or prison employees.
In a video from the scene, he is seen gesturing and shouting, while concentrating on keeping his balance amidst high winds and rain, which made the roof visibly wet and possibly slippery.
Members of the public have been asked to avoid the area, but police said they did not think there was a wider threat to the community.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 4:30pm today, Wednesday, April 12, officers were called to a concern for welfare of a man on Southall Street.
"Emergency services are currently at the scene with specialist negotiators. Road closures in and around Southall Street will remain in place until further notice. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. There is believed to be no wider threat to the public."
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We are working with emergency services to bring the prisoner down safely."
HMP Manchester is commonly referred to as Strangeways, the former official name derived from the area it is located in, north of the city centre. It is one of the largest high security category A prisons in the UK.
The building was partially rebuilt after the notorious Strangeways riot – the biggest prison riot in history – between April 1 and April 25, 1990.
One prisoner and one prison officer died, and nearly 150 staff members and 47 prisoners were injured during the riots.
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