A BOY is fighting for his life in hospital after falling through the roof of a mill.

Brandon Brookes, aged 10, was on the roof with about half a dozen friends when it gave way and he fell about 20ft.

It happened at Bankfield Mill in Bankfield Street, Deane, at 7.45pm.

The youngster suffered serious head, facial and spinal injuries and was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Firefighters were the first to arrive on the scene and they had to break into the premises, which is occupied by Imperial Office Furniture.

A member of staff from the company had been at the scene trying to persudade the youngsters to come down from the roof before the boy fell.

Watch commander Kirk Cornwall said: “When we got in he was not moving and he had serious facial injuries.

“From my experience of 25 years in the job he is in a life threatening condition, but he was breathing and conscious throughout so we are hoping he will pull through.

“His mother was absolutely distraught.”

Police were also called to the scene and were investigating what happened.

Mr Cornwall also issued a warning to youngsters about the dangers of playing on the roof of a building.

He said: “We need to get the message out that playing on roofs can be very dangerous.

"This was a single storey building and it has resulted in very serious injuries.“

For the full story, see tomorrow's Bolton News.