TEENAGERS are dicing with death by skateboarding on the roofs of shops in Burnley, it was revealed today.

And traders in St James Street, whose premises are being used by the boarders, said they are being left alone to deal with the problem.

After years of skateboarding on the bandstand in St James Street, skaters now climb on to the roofs of shops using a fire escape stairwell.

Traders are angry at the way the matter has been dealt with by the authorities.

But police today said they were 'limited' in what they can do to prevent the incidents.

Ian Stackhouse, a member of Burnley's town centre management team, said: "From a public safety point of view and a business perspective, solutions to this problem need to be found quickly.

"To find facilities but also for the relevant agencies to get involved. The softly, softly approach has not worked."

Sergeant Martin Selway from Burnley Police said: "We are aware that some of the traders in the town centre are experiencing problems with skateboarders.

"Whilst we sympathise with those stores, we are limited in terms of what action we can take.

"What we need is a long-term sustainable solution to the problem like a by-law preventing skateboarding in the town centre, or perhaps a skateboard park, both of which are already being progressed by the local council.

"Those who have caused damage or who have proved particularly problematic have been dealt with by way of the police youth referral scheme."

A report from a meeting of the Burnley and District Chamber of Trade said: "Skateboarding is a real menace in this area with young people using the hotel and adjoining shop roofs causing damage to property and possibly injury to themselves.

"The police are unable to help.

"Plans to seal off the bandstand from activity by skateboarders have failed due to a lack of funding. Several proposals have been considered, but as yet no feasible plans are in place.

"Those trading in this area are disappointed by this news and unconvinced that the proposals to create a skateboarding park in Queens Park will deter youngsters from using the bandstand area at the risk of injury to pedestrians and themselves."

Traders are also concerned that plans for a new purpose built skate park in Queens Park will not solve the problem.

Audrey Hall, the owner of ladies' clothes shop, Bourne, said her shop has been plagued by skateboarders for months.

She said: "When we contacted the police about it I was quite distressed because they said if one of them fell through the roof it was our responsibility, but there is no way we can stop them doing it."

Mrs Hall, a member of and former president of the Burnley and District Chamber of Trade, is in the process of replacing blinds at her shop after one skateboarder fell off the roof and crashed through them.

"It's a good job the blind was there or he might have gone through the window. We have had complaints from older people who said it puts them off coming to the town centre."

At Slender World, also in St James Street, owner Anne Craine said the problem is out of control.

She said: "We have had 12 or 13 of them on the roof sometimes. It's been going on for months and months. It's stopped at the moment because of the weather, but it's a massive problem."