TWO men caught by police inside a disused industrial unit late at night denied they were planning to steal.

Blackburn magistrates heard police were alerted by a member of the public who said they had seen a torch light inside Calder Print on Manchester Road, Burnley.

When officers entered the building they found Paul Edward Foster and Ronald Houghton hiding and they also recovered a number of tools.

Foster, 43, of Rosegrove Lane, Burnley, and Houghton, 63, of Dean Street, Burnley, were convicted after a trial of burglary with intent to steal.

Houghton was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £120 and ordered to pay £400 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Foster was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement, 80 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £400 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said when police entered the building they found Houghton hiding behind a pillar and Foster lying on the floor.

Plastic casing from wire was strewn around and stripped copper wire was stacked as if ready for removal. Foster had a pair of wire cutters in his pocket and there were other tools on the floor.

Mark Williams, for Houghton, said he still denied the offence.

"He doesn't know if other people had been into the building previously or how often," said Mr Williams.

"There were bits of wire but no great quantities stacked up."

Daniel Fraser, for Foster, said both defendants had accepted entering the building but not that their intention was to steal."