TEENAGERS are putting their lives at risk by jumping on factory roofs and trying to break in. So far the vandals have smashed a door, ransacked one of the factories, and attempted to set fire to another building. And Jamie Green of First Glass, and Eric J

TEENAGERS are putting their lives at risk by jumping on factory roofs and trying to break in.

So far the vandals have smashed a door, ransacked one of the factories, and attempted to set fire to another building.

And Jamie Green of First Glass, and Eric Joyce of Layton Engineering in Lower Gower Road, Royston, fear it is only a matter of time before one of the 12-14-year-olds is seriously hurt.

Mr Green said: "It's not safe. We only have a 3mm thick roof, but 2000-3000 sheets of glass are in the building.

"We even cut ourselves on a daily basis, but if they fell through the roof or the skylights and landed on a sheet of glass, it would cut them in half.

"We are not worried about them cutting the glass, but we would spend two days mopping up blood, and someone would have to tell their parents they were dead."

Mr Joyce said: "The roof is extremely dangerous and fragile.

"And if they turn on the machines they could get pulled in or have an arm ripped off, but they don't seem to take that on board."

Mr Joyce says he has approached the youngsters, and they say their behaviour is a result of 'boredom'.

He said: "I was young once and know people need excitement and get bored, but annoyance is another matter.

"The council and the police pride themselves in making Priory Memorial Gardens an alcohol-free zone, but now the youths have been squeezed out of the park and into our area.

"It's a question of outsmarting them, but if it carries on we'll have to install CCTV cameras at extra cost."

A Herts Police spokeswoman said: "In the past few weeks we have attended two incidents of nuisance behaviour in that area, and two juveniles have been given a warning.

"This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and we will deal with any problems in the area robustly, and deal with those responsible accordingly.