A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in Erith after a stand-off for more than seven hours while police tried to coax him down from a roof. 

West Street was closed to traffic throughout the day and buses were on diversion while emergency services dealt with the incident.

Police negotiators had been at the scene since shortly before 10.30am on Monday morning.

According to police, the boy climbed onto the roof "after committing criminal damage" to a building on the same street.

Reports suggested the boy climbed onto the top of St John's Church Community Hall.

A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed:"Police were called at 10:21hrs on Monday, 20 August to reports of a male on a roof in West Street, Erith. 

"The male, aged 17, is reported to have climbed onto the roof after committing criminal damage to a property in West Street."

She added he was arrested on suspicion of attempted GBH and criminal damage after coming down from the roof shortly after 5pm.