Pirate radio broadcasters endangering their lives for the sake of their station were today given a stark warning - give up or get hurt.

The broadcasters repeatedly risk life and limb by climbing onto the top of a lift and riding it to the top of Basildon's tallest building.

Their mission each time is to erect their illegal transmission equipment on the roof of Brooke House in Basildon Town Square.

Each time the broadcasters cause hundreds of pounds of damage but efforts so far to stop them have proved futile.

But it is the way they are getting up there which is causing the most concern.

Basildon police, the council and the Department for Trade and Industry said today they are increasingly concerned for the safety of the group.

They believe it may only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or even killed.

PC Dave Smith, of Basildon police crime desk, warned: "It is a very dangerous game these people are playing. It is only a matter of time before somebody gets hurt, or worse.

"Riding on the top of a lift and walking on the roof of Brooke House is very dangerous."

Attempts by the council to stop the incidents have not yet succeeded.

A spokeswoman said: "We are very concerned about this problem. We are having to be extremely careful. If we go in there blocking the access points we could increase the chances of these people getting hurt.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and work closely with the police and DTI to come to a solution. It is taking a lot of time and effort to resolve."

Cable company CDA has criticised the council for not stopping the antics which have seen thousands of people lose their television transmissions.

The pirate radio's own transmitters have, on a number of occasions over the past few months, been attached to those belonging to CDA which are also positioned on the roof of Brooke House.

Each time the incident happens the council has to repair the damage and the police have to file reports of criminal damage.

The latest break-in was between Christmas Eve and Tuesday, January 4, when £300 damage was caused.

Before that, police reported a similar incident on November 30.

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