A TOWN centre came to a standstill early today when a man climbed to the top of a town hall and threatened to throw himself off.

Late-night revellers in Great Harwood watched in horror as the 34-year-old man climbed 50 feet up scaffolding fixed to the town hall, placed his head in a noose and threatened to jump.

The area was sealed off around 1am as police tried to coax the man down.

But he refused and threw pieces of scaffolding board to the ground.

Firefighters and paramedics were on stand-by at the scene and a trained police negotiator was drafted in to mediate from an upstairs window.

The man eventually agreed to come down and a turntable ladder was used. A man was arrested and due to be interviewed by Accrington Police today.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.