The scene of the siege in Somerset Close, Tottenham, this afternoon

A desperate man is threatening to set himself and his home alight if bailiffs evict him - having reportedly doused his flat with petrol.

The man sits on the windowsill of the flat in Somerset Close, Tottenham, this afternoon.

The man, named locally as Wayne Wilson, 46, has been holed up in a first-floor flat in Somerset Close, Tottenham, since 11am, and police are believed to be locked in negotiation with him.

Friends said the self-employed gardener has been embroiled in a High Court battle with Sanctuary Housing Association over his tenancy, which came to a head this morning when a judge agreed an eviction order.

Mr Wilson, said to have lived at the same address for around 20 years, was described as a decent man and keen marathon runner who never got into trouble.

His friend, legal advisor Winston Leachman, said: “He’s at his wit’s end and he doesn’t know what else to do. He has nowhere else to go.”

A number of neighbours evacuated from their homes spoke of their frustration at the situation.

One resident said: “I feel sorry for him, but he’s going about it the wrong way. What if he gets put in a psychiatric hospital?”

One woman, who suffers from diabetes, was unsure when she would be able to retrieve her medication.

The police cordon also prevented a heavily pregnant woman taking her three children to her parents’ home.

The fire brigade sent seven crews at the start of the siege, reduced to two by mid-afternoon.

Sanctuary Housing Association was making contingency overnight arrangements for tenants as the siege looked to continue into the evening.