A suicidal man was rescued from a rooftop in New Malden yesterday, after taking his clothes off and threatening to jump.

The 57-year-old man was in severe distress at about 9am yesterday when he was threatening to jump from the roof of a house in Alric Avenue.

He was coaxed down by police during two hours of negotiation, and came down of his free will from the roof with help from firefighters.

Wimbledon and New Malden sent fire engines to the scene, and firefighters eventually used a "snorkel" - a hydraulic platform - to reach the man and bring him down.

He was then taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment of minor injuries.

Alric Avenue resident Les Mardell said: "The man was shouting and screaming and very distressed.

"He stripped naked and had to be covered by a blanket when he was rescued. He must have been freezing as it was a very cold morning."

Earlier in the morning, the man had also been involved in a minor road traffic accident in New Malden, which was dealt with at the time by police.

He did not climb on to the roof of his own property, and it is thought that the owners of the house involved are out of the country.

Police have not charged the man with any offence.