A man who climbed up Big Ben's Elizabeth Tower carrying a Palestinian flag has been brought down after more than 16 hours. The barefoot man had made his way on to a ledge several metres up the tower at the Palace of Westminster on Saturday morning. He had been heard telling negotiators he would come down on his "own terms".

A man has appeared in court accused of climbing up the tower of Big Ben, the Metropolitan Police has said. Daniel Day, 29, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and trespassing on a protected site.