A TEENAGER wanted on suspicion of assault evaded arrest for more than four hours by climbing on to the roof of a school.

The 16-year-old sought refuge atop Norden High School in Stourton Street, Rishton, at about 3.30pm after being chased by police.

The boy, wanted in connection with an assault on Monday night, climbed on the roof and a stand-off developed with the teen refusing to come down.

But at 7.40pm, he agreed to come down and was arrested.

Insp Andy Carter said: “We had been looking for him since an assault on Monday night.

“He was spotted and there was a long chase and he ended up on top of the school.

“He was on the roof for four-and-a-half hours but in the end he came down of his own accord.”

Stourton Street was cordoned off and a police helicopter monitored the scene from the sky.

A crowd of about 50 people gathered but police tried to usher them around the corner and out of sight.

Over the course of the stand-off, the boy was seen roaming the lower flat part of the roof before climbing to the highest point of the school's tallest building and sitting on a chimney.

He spoke to some friends and family who had gathered at the scene on his mobile phone, apparently threatening to jump off.

School headteacher Tim Mitchell said he called police as soon as he heard the boy was on school grounds.

He said: “We heard there was a teenager in the area who was wanted by the police.

“I did the good citizen thing and called the police.” A Rishton man who was watching the scenes unfold said: “It seems a bit daft standing there as he will surely have to come down eventually.

“He must be freezing as it is a very cold night.” Another bystander said: “He is just wasting the police's time and money sitting up there.

“He should get down and face the consequences of his actions.”