THREE men caught on the roof of a four-storey new-build in the centre of Burnley admitted they were not there for the view.

Blackburn magistrates heard police, including a dog handler, searched the canalside building from bottom to top, eventually following footsteps in the dust which led to a ladder going up to the roof.

And the trio were found hiding behind a wall and arrested.

Mark Anthony Ellis, 42, of Moorland Road, Burnley, his son, Morgan Ellis, 19, of Beech Street, Padiham, and Reece Patrick Murgatroyd, 18, of Burnley Road, Padiham, all pleaded guilty to burglary at Bridge Walk Apartments with intent to steal.

Mark Ellis was sentenced to a community order for 12 months with 60 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

Morgan Ellis and Murgatroyd were made subject to a curfew between 8 pm and 7 am for four months.

They were each ordered to pay £5 victim surcharge.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said a security guard had checked the site and saw a torchlight in an upstairs window.

He contacted the police and maintained observation until they arrived.

Mark Williams, defending, said the three men had been walking along the canal tow path. There was a panel missing from the fence around the new build apartment block and they went in.

“I am not saying they ended up on the roof for the views over the town centre but they didn’t go in equipped with tools or bags or anything like that,” said Mr Williams.

“They only went in because there was a fence panel missing and no doors on the construction.”

Imposing the sentences, the chairman of the magistrates said they believed the men had entered solely for the purpose of stealing and said they had come very close to going to prison.