Bedford church roof stand-off: man arrested

A man was handcuffed and taken to the cells after a two hour church roof stand-off in Bedford on Saturday afternoon.

Onlookers gathered from around 4.30pm when the man started throwing pieces of wood and what looked like roof slates from scaffolding on the roof of St Joseph and the Holy Child Church in Midland Road, Bedford.

The man, who police at the scene believed was Polish, appeared to be speaking on a mobile phone during the siege which caused the road to be cordoned off.

One onlooker said: “He’s thrown down at least three or four big planks of wood that I’ve seen, and he seems a little unsteady on his feet.”

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police confirmed that the man has been arrested on suspicion of affray and criminal damage and would spend a night in the cells before being questioned on Sunday.

Do you know the man from the dramatic incident? Email editorial@times&citizen.co.uk or tweet to @BedfordTC

To look back on our live on-scene coverage of Saturday’s events visit us on Twitter @BedfordTC