A bare-chested man, who climbed along the top of a number of buildings on College Green in Dublin earlier today, has been talked down.

Garda negotiators are understood to have been in contact with the man for several hours.

The man first appeared at the top of the Abercrombie & Fitch building at mid-morning and then moved to the top of the adjacent Ulster Bank building, causing severe traffic disruption in Dublin city centre.

At one stage he was standing on the edge of the buildings but later sat down.

The man was on top of the building for more than four hours.

Emergency services blocked Dame Street to traffic in both directions and set up a cordon to keep back pedestrians, though restrictions are now easing.

It is unclear how the man climbed to the top of the building. Gardai believe he may have entered the Abercrombie &Fitch building and accessed the roof or alternatively he climbed up scaffolding on an adjoining building.