A man was able to scale the roof of Parliament on Wednesday after evading armed police officers stationed at the main security gates yards from where the Westminster terror attack took place.

Parliament was placed on high alert shortly before midday when the man, who has since been arrested, was able to make his way onto the estate and scale scaffolding to the roof of the Palace.

He was eventually detained 30 minutes after officers were first alerted to reports of a man acting suspiciously near Carriage Gates, the main entrance used by vehicles entering Parliament.

The incident, which last from 11.30am until 12pm, saw dozens of armed officers swarm into New Palace Yard, the main thoroughfare, before they were finally able to arrest the man.