A man has been rescued from the roof of a mental health services building.

Residents reported seeing a number of police cars at the Essex Mental Health Services Hospital, close to Basildon Hospital.

Basildon Hospital has confirmed the man was a patient of Essex Mental Health Services, which is run independently to the hospital.

A spokesman from Essex Police said: "We were called at around 6.20pm on Monday with reports that a man had climbed onto the roof of a building at Basildon Hospital.

"We attended and spoke to the man who came down at around 8.20pm before being taken to Basildon Hospital to receive care from medical professionals."

A spokesman for The Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust, said: "We can confirm that a male was brought to the health based place of safety at Basildon Mental Health Unit on the evening of Monday September 3 by Essex Police.

“The gentleman is now being assessed by mental health professionals with care and support being provided as appropriate.”