A MAN is stuck upside down, 270ft up a chimney, and emergency services are scrambling to rescue him.

A man is stuck at the top of a 270ft chimney and has reportedly been there for hours as emergency services organise an 'extremely difficult' rescue effort.

Footage from the scene also appears to show a figure, upside down with his legs in the air, at the top of Dixon's Chimney in Carlisle, Cumbria.

There is no information on how, or why, the man came to be trapped up the chimney available at the moment.

The panic began among residents this morning, with local reports saying shouts and wailing could be heard coming from the chimney in the early hours of this morning, before police arrived on the scene. As early morning mist cleared, the figure could be seen at the top.

Since then, a Coastguard helicopter has been hovering close to the chimney top with police, fire and ambulance services scrambled to the scene below.

Messenger Newspapers:

Fire chiefs have made an urgent public appeal for a high-rise cherry picker to help resolve the situation.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue area manager John McVay said: "This is a very complex and difficult process given the obvious dangers to the man and the extreme difficulty in gaining access to him in a way which will keep him and emergency services safe.

Messenger Newspapers:

"I can assure the public that the emergency services are working tirelessly and effectively together to resolve this issue safely for all and that the protection of life is our first priority.

"I ask people impacted by the incident and the road closures to continue to show patience.

"I'd also like to ask anyone who has a cherry picker in excess of 90 metres within Cumbria to please contact Cumbria police or Cumbria Fire and rescue service on 999."