“URBAN explorers” have been warned to stay out of derelict buildings in Bolton after they climbed to the top of an old church bell tower where a surveyor fell to his death.

The police warning comes after these pictures of the inside of the derelict Holy Trinity Church were posted on a web forum.

Trespassers climbed to the top of the clock tower to take photographs of the views.

The forum advises would-be “adventurers” on how to get into the building and warns about the state of the ladders.

Surveyor David Humphries, aged 64, plunged 20ft to his death while working inside the Trinity Street church in May, 2006.

Mr Humphries was carrying out an inspection of the inside of the building when he fell through a hole in the bell tower floor.

An inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Insp Phil Spurgeon, who leads the Bolton Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I would absolutely discourage anyone from entering derelict buildings or building sites.

“The worst part of the job we do is having to go and tell parents that their child is dead, especially through misadventure.”

The pictures were posted on the UK Urban Exploration Forums website.

One of the trespassers, known as “Sneak”, posted: “Its a nice place, I swear to god though someones going to get hurt on those ladders if their not careful!!(sic)”

An introduction to urban exploration on the forum says: “Always remember this usually involves trespass and being where your not supposed to be, if you are not happy with doing this, then it’s probably not for you.”

Holy Trinity Church, opposite Bolton railway station, is one of the so-called Waterloo Churches, built with money from a £1 million government fund set up in 1818 as a token of the nation’s thanks for victory in the famous battle against Napoleon.

The Grade II listed building has been empty since 1992.

Plans to transform it into a base for several voluntary organisations collapsed in 2001, when negotiations with the owners, Little Hulton-based builders G and J Seddon Ltd, broke down.

In 2007, plans were approved to turn it into aparments.