999 alert: Cops, chopper, fire crews, road closed - for a man who wasn't there... (From Worcester News)

999 alert: Cops, chopper, fire crews, road closed - for a man who wasn't there...

7:10am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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EMERGENCY services were scrambled to a landmark Worcester building over fears for a man’s safety – only for it to emerge it was a council worker carrying out a routine maintenance check.

Eleven police officers, community support officers, the force helicopter and the fire brigade attended the St Andrew’s Spire in Deansway after a member of the public reported a man on the spire. But despite searching for more than two hours, using the force helicopter fitted with search lights and thermal imaging equipment and a ‘cherry picker’ crane, no one was found.

Deansway – a major route through the city – was closed in both directions to allow use of the crane.

It was only later it was discovered Worcester City Council, which owns the building known locally as the Glover’s Needle, had been carrying out maintenance work and installing cameras on the parapet to film the peregrine falcons which nest at the site.

West Mercia Police received the call at 4.20pm on Sunday and the search ended at 7.02pm. Chief Inspector Sharon Gibbons, responsible for operations across south Worcestershire, said: “Due to the nature of the building, officers could not see clearly to the top of the tower and the door leading to it was locked. Quite rightly, officers wanted to be entirely sure that someone was not at risk at the top of the tower.

“While efforts were being made to contact the keyholder for the spire, the fire brigade was called as it has suitable equipment to lift firefighters high enough to enable them to see.

“The road was closed in both directions to enable the fire brigade to use the lifting equipment safely.

“The force helicopter also flew over the scene, using thermal imaging to see if there was anyone in the tower. The search light was used to assist emergency services on the ground.

“When it was evident there was no one in the spire and officers had thoroughly searched the building and made enquiries in the area, they were stood down and the road was opened.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to motorists but it was important we acted quickly and thoroughly to a call reporting a genuine concern for the welfare of a member of the public.”

Chris Dobbs, landscape architect for Worcester City Council, said workers had been at the spire throughout the weekend.

“The lady that rang in was concerned and it is great that people are observant,” he said.

“At this time of year there is a lot going on up there. We need to check the building and that the wires are okay, and there is nothing there for the peregrines to get snagged on.”

Mr Dobbs said the work would be completed in the next few weeks, after which it was unlikely anyone would go up the tower in case they disturbed the birds apart from to ring them later in the summer.