THE police have issued a warning after a teenage boy plunged three floors from a Barrow town centre roof. 

The 17-year-old boy from Barrow became trapped in an inner court yard after falling through some metal grating on the Evening Mail building in Abbey Road. 

A number of children have been gaining access to the roof via scaffolding on a neighbouring building. 

Cumbria Police have confirmed that this is becoming a common problem within Barrow. 

Sergeant Andy Smith said: “During the past month local people in Barrow have been reporting young people on roofs on several different locations. 

"In a further such incident a young male fell from a premises on Sunday and was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital. 

“Although luckily the injuries sustained were not life threatening, we would appeal to young people in Barrow that this type of behaviour is extremely dangerous and could have life changing consequences."

Crews from the police, fire service, ambulance and air ambulance attended the scene at around 2pm on Sunday. 

The teenager had a suspected broken arm and possibly injured his pelvis. 

He fell three floors and landed on top of a toilet block. 

Des Barlow is the official spokesperson for Health and Safety on Barrow Borough Council. 

He said: "I can't understand what he was doing in the first place - this is what is concerning me the most. 

"These kids want to think seriously before doing what they are doing. They should not be climbing up on roofs, they are putting their lives at risk. That lad has been very lucky as he could have died. 

"Maybe now with this publicity it might make others think about not doing things like that. 

"Some solution needs to be found and the scaffolding on the building next door is something I will definitely be looking into."

Members of the public are being urged to contact Cumbria Police on 101 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if they witness anyone climbing up on buildings or on roofs.