DO-it-yourself roofers were left high and not so dry when they set about repairing vandal damage.

Kevin McNamara and Joe Casey battled against the elements all day to repair the roof of Blackburn Rifle and Pistol Shooting Club.

But at the end of the day the drenched club members found they had an even bigger problem - somebody had pinched their ladder.

Committee member Brian Chappell said: "We have had big problems with vandalism, particularly to the roof. Last month we had 2,000 slates stolen and Kevin and Joe were trying to repair some of the damage.

"They managed to shin down the drainpipe without injuring themselves, but it was a stupid trick to play."

It will cost £3,000 to repair the damage to the Dickens Street club, and the club is not insured for damage to the roof.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.