PASSERS-BY watched in horror today as a man stood on top of a 40ft building throwing slates at police negotiators who were trying to talk him down.

The centre of Folkestone came to a standstill as police sealed the area off to protect shoppers and office workers from the missiles.

A tactical police team with officers wearing body armour were called in, but did not approach the man until he had been on the roof-top for more than an hour. Two trained negotiators were the first to approach him. They called to the man from Bouverie Square, wearing body armour also and carrying shields.

However, their words were met with a tirade of missiles thrown from the roof, some of which hit their shields. There were gasps as the man became increasingly foolhardy and seemed to be playing to the 200 plus crowd watching his antics. He removed his t-shirt and trousers and several times pulled down his boxer shorts. He also danced up and down the roof, slipping on a couple of occasions and waved his arms in the air.

The man staged his protest at the bus station in Bouverie Square, on top of a building used by staff from Stagecoach for their breaks. It also houses a ticket office and newspaper kiosk. He swore at police and made rude gestures.

The incident eventually ended after three hours when the man fell asleep on the roof-top. Two firemen, at the top of a turntable ladder, crept towards him and appeared to handcuff the man. He was lowered down a ladder, placedd on a stretcher and taken away by ambulance.

Police spokesman Jon Green said later: "He is a 36-year-old local man who is known to us". He added that the man could face charges of criminal damage and might be detained under the Mental Health Act "for his own safety".