A stonemason was trapped on a church roof in Wiltshire on Wednesday after falling from a height while working on the historic building.

Emergency services were called out to St Mary the Virgin Church in Steeple Ashton just before noon to rescue the man.

The 40-year-old worker was trapped while working on the roof of the Grade 1 listed church, which has been described as an architectural gem.

The 13th century church is known as one of the finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in England.

Specially-trained firefighters from Trowbridge were called out to the scene, alongside regular crews from Trowbridge, Swindon and Bath.

A spokeswoman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they had used height and rope rescue trained firefighters to support regular crews.

She added: “At 11.44am yesterday morning (18 May), we were called to Church Street, Steeple Ashton, to rescue a casualty who had fallen from height.

“Crews from Trowbridge and Swindon as well as a technical rescue team, also from Trowbridge, attended the incident.

“Rope rescue equipment was used to lower the casualty to the ground. Our stop came at 12.36pm.”

The South Western Ambulance Service sent hazardous area response team paramedics from Bristol to the scene.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We were called at 11.16hrs on Wednesday 18 May to an incident in Steeple Ashton.

“We sent a hazardous area response team, an operations officer and a double-crewed land ambulance. We conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Royal United Hospital, Bath.”

Wiltshire Police were also called out but left the ambulance and fire services to handle it.

A spokeswoman said: “We did attend, but it wasn’t deemed to be a police matter.”