Emergency services save man holding gun to his head in Westminster Bridge drama

Emergency services rushed to save a man who was holding a gun to his head in dramatic scenes on Westminster Bridge this morning.

The distressed man threatened to drink a bottle of bleach during the tense stand-off with police just after 4.30am.

Armed police, paramedics and a crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were called to the bridge in central London where they tried to negotiate with the man.

But despite their efforts, he drank the bleach and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

The man's weapon was later found to be a BB gun. He was detained under the mental health act, police said.

In a series of tweets sent from the official Tower RNLI account, a lifeboat volunteer said: "Call with @MPSonthewater to despondent male the wrong side of Westminster Bridge holding gun to his head & threatening to drink bleach.

"After drinking the fluid he was detained by armed police & cared for by @Ldn_Ambulance. Later it turned out to have been a BB gun."

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "Police alerted at around 4.30am. Male was taken to hospital under Sec 136 of Mental Health Act. Gun was found - confirmed as a toy."

An RNLI spokesman said: "London’s Tower RNLI lifeboat crew were called to a report of a man on the wrong side of Westminster Bridge who was thought to have a gun. In order not to unsettle the man further, the lifeboat crew made a careful approach to the area.

"The lifeboat remained a safe distance away, but was close enough to help if needed. Thankfully, the police were able to get the man to climb down and took him into their care."