Police have been involved in a 12-hour standoff with a man on a shed roof holding a knife to his chest.

He is believed to have been there since around 7am this morning.

A 24-year-old woman who lives nearby in Baronsmead, Lordshill, Southampton, said: "There is a man on the roof with a knife to his chest and he has pulled his top up. Armed police are in the house with shields and he won't let people near him. His mum and dad are apparently in the house and he won't let anyone in the garden."

Another woman who did not want to give her name said: "One minute we saw one police man and then there were 20 officers. It's very shocking and also worrying for the kids to see so many police around."

Police are also stationed in a house next door as part of attempts to encourage the man to get down.

A 66-year-old man who knows the woman who lives in the neighbouring house said the man had climbed onto the shed at 7.30am and added: "She's very shaken by it. The police have gone into her house and are trying to get him off the roof. I am surprised that it has gone on for so long."