THREE men who broke into a plant hire company’s premises and stole a £20,000 micro digger have admitted their guilt.

Dean Goodwin, aged 32, Arly Tudge, 22, both of Macdonald Avenue, Farnworth, and Sean Hardman, aged 27, of Parkfield Avenue, Farnworth, all pleaded guilty to stealing the digger from Total Plant Hire Ltd in Trafford on December 27 when they appeared before Manchester magistrates.

Tudge was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court again on January 18. Goodwin and Hardman were each remanded on bail to appear at Bolton Magistrates’ Court on January 25 for sentence.

In the meantime they are banned from associating with each other and Goodwin was made subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew.

Police officers were called to Trafford Park just after 2.30pm on Monday after reports from a security company monitoring CCTV that a group of men were attempting to steal mini diggers and plant equipment.

Following a search with police dogs and the police helicopter, four men were arrested on suspicion of burglary with all the stolen plant machinery was recovered.

The fourth man has been bailed pending further enquiries.