A disturbed teenager sparked a tense rooftop drama in Worthing last night.

Police and firefighters were called to a four-storey house in Rowlands Road at 11.40pm after the 16-year-old boy climbed out of a window on to the roof and refused to come down.

He became increasingly agitated by the presence of the police helicopter overhead and it was ordered to withdraw.

Firefighters tried to reach him with an aerial platform but he climbed to the edge of the roof, where his legs dangled over a 35ft drop.

Rescuers feared he might slip in the dark or be blown off the roof, but after an hour the boy was talked down by a female care worker.

People walking home from town centre pubs and clubs stood and watched the drama unfold.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The police knew he was up there but they couldn't see him and he wasn't talking to anybody.

"We called in our aerial platform and as soon as we went over the apex of the roof we could see him.

"I tried to talk to him but he immediately got up and walked to the edge of the roof, so we withdrew in order not to make the situation more dangerous."

A police spokesman said: "The youth came down to safety just before 1am and inquiries are continuing."