MONDAY AFTERNOON:

Negotiations were continuing late on Monday afternoon with a Bathurst Correctional Centre inmate who had climbed on to one of the roofs of the complex.

The man climbed on to the reception area roof just before 10.30am and had not come down at 5pm.

The 50-year-old, who was shirtless, barefoot and appeared to be wearing a bed sheet as a makeshift cape and mask, drew a small crowd in Browning Street, made up of the media and curious onlookers, in the lead-up to noon.

While he was sitting on the roof for most of the time early in the day, he occasionally stood to move around and, at various stages, also appeared to be holding documents and filming some of those standing below.

He was also on the roof as a storm passed over Bathurst in the early afternoon.

A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said the centre had been placed in lockdown as a result of the incident.

"Our specialised Security Operations Group is assisting with the incident," the spokeswoman said.

MONDAY LUNCHTIME:

MEDIA and emergency services are gathering outside Bathurst Correctional Centre after a man was spotted sitting on the roof of the facility.

The man, believed to be an inmate at the jail, appears to be shirtless and is wearing a bed sheet as a cape.

He is clearly visible from the street outside the jail on Browning Street.

While he is sitting on the roof most of the time, the man occasionally stands to move around and at one stage appeared to be filming the people on the street below.

Local media is gathering at the entrance to the jail and a Fire and Rescue NSW vehicle is stationed outside.