A 16-YEAR-OLD who tried to kill himself twice in four days walked through Trowbridge with an air rifle and a sheath knife in a plea for help.

The teenager, from Trowbridge, was taken in by Wiltshire social services last Friday after the latest incident in which he walked into the town's social services department in Polebarn Road with the weapons.

Police were called after the teenager was spotted walking along Frome Road with the .77 calibre rifle and black sheath knife at around 12.30pm last Thursday.

A council workman tried to stop the distressed teenager but he told him he was going to use the gun to commit suicide.

The boy was arrested at the scene after giving himself up and appeared in Chippenham Youth Court on Monday where he admitted possessing an offensive weapon and having an air rifle in a public place.

Magistrates extended an existing referral order by six months and the teenager was released into the care of social services.

Despite trying to commit suicide three times in five days, psychiatrists have refused to section him under the Mental Health Act and he is technically free to live in the community.

Last week police officers were called to talk him out of jumping from the top of Castle Place car park.

They were called again to Trowbridge train station last Wednesday when the teenager called from a phonebox to tell them he was trying to end his life.

Trains were stopped for more than an hour as police convinced him to come off the tracks.

John Matthews of Wiltshire's social services said they were still providing appropriate care.

He said: "There has been a bed provided in a foster home for him.

"We are keeping in touch with the situation."