A MAN reportedly threatening to jump off the balcony of a fourth floor flat was last night talked down by police.

Juxon Street in Jericho, Oxford, was sealed off at both ends for two-and-a-half hours from about 5.30pm with about 20 police and paramedics at the scene.

Eyewitnesses said they saw a man, estimated to be in his 30s, shouting from the balcony at Castle Mill House and there were reports he may have been threatening to harm himself.

Shortly after 7pm the police confirmed that trained negotiators were at the scene and apparently attempting to talk him down.

Then, just after 8pm, he gave himself up and came down.

Police refused to say what action, if any, would be taken. Terry Walpole, a Juxon Street resident, said: “I’ve lived here for 28 years and have never seen or heard anything like this. It’s shocking.”

Robin Green, 32, of Juxon Street, said: “It’s such a quiet area – you don’t ever expect anything like this to happen. Everyone seems stunned.”

Residents of the Castle Mill House flats were asked to leave while police dealt with the incident and there were around eight officers guarding the bottom of the flats.

Several surrounding streets were also closed off, including Cranham Terrace and Cranham Street. A police spokeswoman said they received the call just before 5.30pm with reports that a man had “gained access to the flat” and that there was a concern for his welfare.

She added: “Trained police negotiators were at the scene. There was a concern for the man’s welfare after he gained access to the building.

“Residents who live in Juxon Street were unable to drive down there but were instead being walked by officers to their homes.”