A woman tried to hang herself from a balcony in Croydon Magistrates Court just minutes after a court hearing.

The woman, from Sutton, made a desperate attempt to climb over the railings wearing a noose before being stopped by two good samaritans.

It is understood it is the same woman who caused chaos at Sutton station last Wednesday after threatening to kill herself on the railway platform.

The woman had to be talked down by police officers after attaching herself to a signal gantry.

In the latest incident, the 37-year-old tried to climb over the first floor railings when two other defendants, due to be sentenced for common assault, grabbed hold of her arms to try and prevent her from falling.

Shan Shan Su and her partner, Derek Hoilett, held on to the woman for about 15 seconds before she slipped from their grip and fell into the arms of waiting security guards.

Ms Su, 40, said: "The woman had drawn something on her face, like whiskers.

"She came out of the toilet and I thought 'this girl here is different'. I had a feeling something was wrong.

"Then I saw her put her leg over the balcony, I ran over and grabbed her arms. Her top split, then she slipped."

Mr Hoilett, 48, said: "It was really quick, she hadn't tied the rope properly but it did snap. It was very thin."

After she was caught, she was held down screaming by security and police officers until an ambulance crew arrived.

The woman had just her criminal case committed to Croydon Crown Court.

A barrister who witnessed the incident has called on Ms Su and Mr Hoilett to be commended for their actions.

Steven Attridge said: "I saw them run to the end of the balcony and grab hold of her.

"They then both held on to her for as long as they could - it was a good 10 to 15 seconds - by which time security had been alerted to what was going on.

"She was in the process of climbing over when they grabbed her.

"Either she would have fallen and if the rope was secure she would have hanged herself, if it wasn't she would have fallen 30 feet on to a marble floor.

"I had seen her earlier this morning, she had black marks on her face.

"They should certainly get commendations for their actions. Not many people would react in that way."