A SUSPECTED burglar tried to escape angry residents last night by climbing onto a house roof and sitting on a chimney pot for more than an hour. As police, fire and ambulance crews gathered with astonished neighbours around the property on Glaister Lane, Breightmet, the man demanded his solicitor, cigarettes, a coat - and even a glass of water!

The incident began when the man was found in the back of a nearby house and was chased by residents.

He ran along the back of properties on Glaister Lane and eventually broke into an empty house.

The intruder smashed his way into the loft and then through roof tiles, before sitting on the chimney pot. Neighbour, Mr Michael Dalton, tried to get into the house as the intruder began smashing windows, but failed.

Fire officers were forced to call for a special hydraulic platform to coax the man from his lofty perch. And during his high-rise sit-in the man's demands were met by fire crews using the hydraulic platform.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "Because of his position it was decided to agree to his demands."

Eventually, the man agreed to step onto the platform and was checked-over by paramedics before being taken away by police.

Neighbour Mrs Lily Dalton said today: "It was ridiculous. He kicked the bedroom window in and was throwing slates down off the roof.

"We were all out in the street watching. Initially he threw his coat off and then demanded that he be given another one. He asked for a cigarette and a glass of water.

"We could not believe it. One of us suggested he might like cheese on toast while he was at it!"

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