VANDALS have been warned they are dicing with death after breaking through fencing to walk on Darwen Tower during repairs.

Children and adults have been seen on the tower's balconies, even though they were declared unsafe by Blackburn with Darwen Council earlier this year.

The intruders are believed to have got in by damaging iron fences put up to prevent people getting on to the site. One onlooker, who lives in Darwen, saw them on Bank Holiday Monday.

She said: "I knew that the tower had been declared unsafe by the council which was why I was so shocked to see loads of people up there.

"The iron fences were damaged and had been prised open by the vandals."

The repair work aims to ensure that Darwen Tower continues standing but one local councillor fears the intrusion may affect when the tower is re-opened. Coun Paul Browne, who represents Sudell Ward, said: "I find it appalling what these people have done - they are stupid and probably would say they had nothing better to do.

"But the fact remains that there is plenty for people to do in Darwen without having to resort to such extremes.

"These idiots are putting their lives at risk as well as risking Darwen's history.

The landmark listed structure, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 1997, was shut to the public last October when Blackburn with Darwen Council announced that viewing platforms would be strengthened.

The foot and mouth crisis, which resulted in the closure of the surrounding moors, is being blamed for a lack of progress on site since then.

Initially, a date of spring 2001 was set for completion.

A conditional survey carried out to identify structural defects found that the decking throughout the tower needed replacing.

Engineers have been instructed to carry out a full survey and produce a set of plans before work is commissioned.

Early estimates put the work at £30,000 and it will take several more months to complete.

Coun Browne added: "Vandalism costs the council millions of pounds every year, the people of today need to be made to realise just what harm they are causing and the cost it will have on them in the future."

Det Sgt Ian Critchley, of Darwen CID, said: "We hadn't received any reports of vandalism at the tower but the matter will now be passed to the relevant officers for them to investigate further."