Southampton extreme climber says he was just having a cup of tea on top of Centenary Quay

George Tearle from Sholing was photographed by residents in Ocean Village on the Centenary Quay development in Woolston.

The 20-year-old labourer said this was not the first time he had visited the 89m high rooftop.

He told the Daily Echo he often goes up there to watch the sunset and have a cup of tea.

"It's not the first time I've been up there, this just happens to be the time I was spotted on my own," he said.

• READ MORE: Man spotted 'dangling his legs' off top of Southampton's tallest building

George Tearle on top of a building in Southampton City Centre.

"As simple as it is, I just get up there so I can get away from down here.

"I go up there with my camera and I just enjoy the sunset. That's all there is to it."

George, who shares his photography on his Instagram account @georgetearle, told the Echo that he and his friends started extreme climbing around five years ago when he was 15.

What started out as free-running soon turned into clambering onto large structures after he met like-minded peers who enjoy climbing as a hobby.

He said: "There are people that go out to break things and cause mayhem but we're not like that at all.

"We do it just to see the view, to chill out and to get some cool photos.

Photos from on top of the Centenary Quay development in Woolston

"We're not trying to cause anyone any harm."

Police were called at 9.33pm on Wednesday as people reported a man on top of the building.

Officers reviewed CCTV footage and said that the man was not felt to be acting suspiciously.

George explained that he does not climb on the outside of the building in order to get onto the roof.

His actions have been condemned by one Southampton MP, Royston Smith, who branded the sport "selfish and dangerous".

But George said: "My response to people saying that this is dangerous is that it's no more dangerous than people doing skydiving or someone even driving a car.

"At the end of the day, as long as that person is in control of that situation then it's fine and safe to do.

Photos from on top of the Centenary Quay development in Woolston

"Someone could make a mistake driving a car and it could be a whole family that's lost, whereas the only person I am putting in danger doing this is myself, I can't harm anyone else up there.

"We've been doing this for five years now, we are aware of what we are doing and none of us are messing around, not dangling off the side, we are all sensible with it.

"I've had a lot of people ask me how to gain entry to a certain place and I just won't give it to them because I know they're the type of people to start throwing things off the building and start causing mayhem.

"I would say people shouldn't [copy me] but I feel like I'm contradicting because I do it myself.

"I wouldn't tell people not to do it, just make sure you are always careful and know your limits."