Glass roof fall man 'being chased by security guard'

A man who died after falling through the roof of a busy shopping arcade in Bedford was being chased by a security guard, the BBC understands.

The local man, in his mid-20s, fell 45ft (14m) through the glass roof at the back of a building off Harpur Street at about 1545 BST on Saturday.

He died in hospital after suffering severe injuries in the fall, but had no identification on him, police said.

Officers said more details were due to be released later.

About 200 people were in the shopping centre at the time of the incident.

Gained access

Shop owner Carol Jenkins said a customer who was a nurse and a young doctor had tried to help the man before paramedics arrived.

BBC Look East correspondent Nikki Jenkins said she understands that the man was being chased by a security guard before the fall.

Bedfordshire Police has so far refused to comment on the matter.

The Health and Safety Executive said the local council was looking into how the man gained access to the roof of the shopping arcade.