A MAN was arrested this afternoon (April 30) after smashing the windows at a local job centre with an axe.

The incident happened at lunchtime at the Job Centre in Belmont Road, Uxbridge, and it is believed that the man, thought to be in his late 30s, visited the Job Centre in the morning before returning with the 4ft chopper.

All 20 windows and both entrances were smashed in the two-minute rampage, and it is understood that he gave himself up without resistance when police arrived at the scene.

Uxbridge College student Paul Maddock, who was standing metres away with four friends when the attack happened, said: "We were just on our way back to college when we saw the man come round the corner. He had a bag with him and all of sudden he took out this huge axe.

"He warned the people around him what was about to happen and just went nuts. He was saying that he had snapped – it was a moment of madness."

No one was hurt in the frenzy, and the Centre will be closed until further notice