WORKMEN had a lucky escape this week when the roof of a block of flats collapsed - after thieves stole vital parts of the steel structure inside.

Eight roofers working on the flats being built on the site of the old Coach and Horses Inn on Church Street crashed through the roof after 30 steel straps - estimated to be worth only £4 each in scrap, but vital to maintaining the roof’s integrity - were taken.

All eight miraculously escaped without injury, but site owner and managing director of construction firm Brooke Ren Ltd Jason Lycett said the collapse of the roof and second floor of the building is the latest in an ‘endless battle’ against vandals and thieves on the development.

Jason said: ” Someone has got it in for us on that site. It has got to stop, somebody could have been killed.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle