THREE men climbed onto a factory roof in a stand-off with police before one plunged 20ft through a skylight.

The trio were spotted at the Trutex factory in Clitheroe by a passer-by who alerted officers about men acting suspiciously on the roof.

Police said officers arrived at the factory in Jubilee Mill, Taylor Street, at around 9.30pm last night.

Detectives said one of the men was injured after he fell 20ft through a skylight on to the factory floor.

Around six officers, several vehicles, police dogs were then brought in to tempt the other two men down from the roof whilst a police patrol with dogs entered the building to search for the third burglar.

Sergeant Mick Dickson, of Clitheroe police, was lifted 50ft in the air in a forklift to reach the men urging them to come down as a police helicopter hovered in the sky.

Firefighters from Accrington were also on hand with an aerial ladder platform to aid the efforts.

Police said the man who fell through the roof of the building attempted to conceal himself but officers were able to locate him on a roof beam after following a trail of blood.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital suffering from cuts and bruises before being taken to Greenbank custody office in Blackburn police station.

Sergeant Conrad Tapp, of Clitheroe police, said: “A resident phoned us when they became aware of suspicious activity.

“Officers were therefore on the scene very quickly, allowing them to contain the building before calling for assistance from a dog patrol and the helicopter.

“My message to any potential offenders who are intent on committing such acts is for them to evaluate the risks, because in my opinion the risks to their health far outweigh the benefits.”

Daniel Tomlinson, marketing manager at the schoolwear supplier said: “We first became aware of it when the building alarm was set off as the police had gone in to search for the man who had fallen through the roof.

“We were all amazed at the risk these men had taken and the desperation of some people is frightening.”

Three men aged 19, 21 and 39, from the Colne area were being questioned by detectives on suspicion of lead theft yesterday.