A man climbed a large crane at Rochester Riverside this afternoon and could be seen sitting at the top of the structure.

The daredevil was spotted at about 2.15pm perched on top of the 200 tonne shipping crane, which was built in 1957.

He stayed there for several minutes and then climbed slowly down. It is not known why he climbed to the top.

Terry Oliver, 26, was fishing nearby when he noticed the man climbing the structure.

"He's homeless," he said. "He said he's been living up there. I was just standing there and he started climbing up. He said 'come up', but I said 'no thanks'."

Mr Oliver believed the man and other homeless people had been living in a cabin built into the crane, but that the climber said he no longer lived there.

VIDEO: A man climbed the 170ft structure this lunchtime

"I said if he was hungry and wanted a fish he could have it," added Mr Oliver. "Quite a few people were watching. People were taking pictures. He literally got right up there - he's a nutter."

The crane was originally one of a pair and had a 10 tonne lift capacity and was originally used to unload aggregates for a nearby cement works.

It was built at Cory’s Wharf at Rochester Riverside.

The cranes were dismantled in 2006 to allow the construction of the new river wall.

In 2007, the crane was reassembled and re-painted in its original colour before being erected at the edge of Blue Boar Creek.

The crane provides a link with the sites past and acts as a new landmark for the area, which is being re-developed its boom in upright position is approximately 170ft tall.

The 74-acre brownfield site will contain housing, a hotel a primary school and more.