TOWN centre shoppers and workers attempted to help a man who was understood to have fallen from a great height, but he later died.

Members of the public reported hearing a loud bang and then seeing a man lying on the ground outside The Forum, in Duke Street, Barrow, yesterday lunch time.

It was understood that the man had fallen from the multi-storey car park above The Forum building.

Cumbria police today said: "Police were called at 12.47pm yesterday to a report of a 49-year-old male from Barrow coming off a roof onto Duke Street, Barrow. Ambulance service attended. The male died following his injuries. His death is not being treated as suspicious, and details have been passed to the coroner."

People in Town Square at the time rushed over to help the man, called for an ambulance and ran to find first aiders. Staff from the Wilko store, The Forum and Barrow Town Hall ran out to assist ahead of paramedics arriving at the scene to work on the man.

There were two ambulances, a paramedic car and multiple police vehicles parked in Town Square, which was cordoned off to the public. Also closed off was the walkway between Wilko and Portland Walk and the multi-storey car park entrance in Slater Street.

Evening Mail vendor, Robin Wheeler, 60, who is based outside Wilko, just yards from the incident said: "I'm really sad to hear the man has died. I'm really sorry about that. Thanks to all the people who tried to help him.

"I was with a customer when I heard a loud noise, I turned around and saw a man on the floor.

"A woman who had been on the steps with children went over and said 'don't move him' and she phoned an ambulance.  I went into Wilko and shouted out 'does anyone know first aid'. A lady from Wilko came out to help him, then staff came out from The Forum and the Town Hall to help him and work on him."

A 16-year-old Barrow girl who was in Town Square at the time with her friend said: "We heard a bang and then saw a man on the floor. A woman with children ran over to help."