A 59-YEAR-OLD man has been taken to hospital after a Chester city centre restaurant was cordoned off due to a "police incident".

The Slug and Lettuce on Bridge Street was cordoned off on Tuesday evening (October 15), with pedestrians advised by officers at the scene to head to the other side of the street, with staff and customers evacuated from the premises.

Seven police cars and one van attended the scene, along with an ambulance and a paramedics car.

Police later widened the exclusion zone just after 9pm to close access to Bridge Street and Watergate Street.

Screens were placed outside the restaurant to prevent passers-by from looking in.

Just after 9.20pm, a man was seen being put into the back of an ambulance, and was conscious.

Chester and District Standard:

The Standard understands, after speaking to an eyewitness, that police were called to the restaurant due to concerns for a man's welfare.

Police and ambulance teams left the scene at about 9.30pm, with the police cordon reduced to the perimeter of the restaurant, which is expected to remain closed for the rest of the night.

Police wrote on social media just before 10pm: "We would like to reassure anyone who was out in Chester city centre tonight and saw the large police presence on Bridge Street that there is no need for any concerns.

"We were dealing with concerns for the welfare of a man who is now receiving the help he requires."

A police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 7.45pm on Tuesday, October 15, police were called to reports of concern for the welfare of a man at the Slug & Lettuce pub in Bridge Street, Chester.

"Officers attended the scene and spoke with the 59-year-old man.

"He was subsequently taken to hospital via an ambulance to be assessed."