IPSWICH: A man who was found covered in cuts and who threatened to leap from a building is recovering today.

The 26-year-old - who is believed to have only been released from St Clements Hospital hours earlier - sparked an armed stand-off in an Ipswich street.

The drama unfolded in Stoke Street shortly after 5pm yesterday when armed police officers, specialist negotiators and firefighters were called to a block of flats.

Ambulance crews, who had been sent to the scene, were concerned for the safety of the man who was believed to have self harmed.

A call to police was made at 5.07pm after paramedics, who found the man had sustained cuts to his face and arms, reported a “disturbance” in the street.

By the time officers arrived, the man had entered a block of flats, climbed on to the roof of the two-storey building and was threatening to jump.

The incident took place in view of rush hour traffic opposite Stoke Hall, in flats overlooking the River Orwell.

Motorists were forced to turn back as police officers closed a section of the road for 45 minutes while negotiators spoke to the man.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said the man had been a patient at St Clements Hospital in Foxhall Road until he was discharged yesterday morning.

He said the man’s injuries were not thought to be serious, and confirmed the casualty had not been taken to hospital.

“We called police because he was threatening to jump,” the spokesman added.

The man was safely talked down from the roof of the flats by police negotiators at 6.15pm.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said: “There was a disturbance in the street and the ambulance crew requested police assistance.

“The man entered a block of flats and went on to the roof.

“Police officers including armed response units and negotiators attended along with the fire service.”

Stoke Street was closed off to the public for 45 minutes while the man was on the roof.

The spokeswoman said no-one else was injured in the incident.

n Did you witness the drama? Call the newsdesk on 01473 324790 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk