A SCRAP metal dealer who admitted burgling a former hospital claimed he was let into the site by men wearing hi-visibility jackets bearing the word "security."

Blackburn magistrates heard that Asif Firfire had set up his own scrap business and had been distributing leaflets with his phone number on.

The court was told he received a call asking him to go to the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary at 10pm to collect some scrap.

Deborah Morgan, defending, said: "Initially he thought it was rather strange to be asked to go at that time.

"Two people wearing hi-vis jackets opened the gates and let him in and the people who loaded items into his van were also wearing yellow jackets and carrying torches."

The court was told that Firfire tried to drive away when police arrived and it was only the brave actions of an officer, who reached into the moving car and grabbed the keys, that prevented him.

Firfire, 30, of Audley Range, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary and was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said that when police searched Firfire's van they found a large copper cylinder and other bits of piping which had been removed from the hospital.

He said the claim made by Firfire that he had been let into the compound by security guards did not accord with the information given to the police.

"They were told that two men had been seen breaking down the fence," said Mr Ainge. "The security officers on duty were both of Polish origin and did not speak English. They did not have security written on their jackets."

Miss Morgan added: "When the police arrived they were wearing yellow jackets and carrying torches and there were a few moments of confusion but he does not accept he deliberately drove at anybody.

"The police shone their torches into his face but as soon as he realised who they were he stopped the car and put the hand-brake on."

A couple of weeks ago we revealed that security had been stepped up to 24 hour a day at the site after a spate of break-ins.

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman said nine people had been arrested in incidents on the site in the last month.

The infirmary has been empty since the opening of the new £113 million Royal Blackburn Hospital at Queen's Park last year.

Barratt homes has been given planning permission to build 253 new homes on the site of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Demolition is expected to be completed by November, with only the landmark Edwardian War memorial building, overlooking Bolton Road, to escape the bulldozers.