A BAR worker at a Langho hotel was caught with his fingers in the till after management set up a covert surveillance system.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that while the directors at Mitton Fold Farm put their losses at more than £4,200 James Andrew Rose estimated that he had stolen about £2,000.

Rose, 27, of Sunnyside Avenue, Wilpshire, pleaded guilty to stealing £60 on November 28 and stealing an unspecified amount between October 1 and that date. The case was adjourned until March 19 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said it began to emerge during October that there were discrepancies in the takings. The directors installed covert closed circuit TV and on the evidence they collected called in the police.

"They mounted their own direct observations and when they arrested Rose he had three £20 notes in his pocket which he accepted he had taken from the till," said Miss Dacre. She said that based on stock taking figures the management thought that £4,279 had been taken.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Rose estimated that he had stolen £2,000 and that the magistrates who eventually sentenced him would have to decide whether the difference would affect their sentence.

"Despite having lost his job he will put £2,000 before the court in three weeks time by way of compensation for his former employers," said Mr Church-Taylor.