A BURGLAR who died after falling 60ft from a shop window has been named by detectives.

Philip Armstrong, 35, of Yarm Road, Stockton, died on Sunday morning of serious head injuries after falling from a drainpipe.

It is believed he and another man, aged 22, were attempting to climb down from the third floor of Bertie's designer clothes store in Stockton High Street when the drainpipe snapped.

Mr Armstrong is believed to have hit his head on a canopy as he fell, and the younger man is thought to have landed on him, sustaining an injured arm.

The younger man was released from hospital yesterday and taken to Stockton police station for questioning about the incident, which happened at 8pm on Saturday.

Rose Samuels, 51, was on her way to work at The Red Lion pub, in Stockton, when the tragedy unfolded.

The grandmother said: "I got off the bus and was walking towards the alley, just near Bertie's, when I heard a crack and something fall.

"At first, I thought it was a plant pot, but when I looked, I saw the two lads on the floor."

Mrs Samuels, of Ruby Road, Thornaby, said she ran over to the men, who were already being attended by passers-by.

But she said another man, who was standing at the Bertie's shop entrance, called for someone to put something under Mr Armstrong's head.

Her impression was that he was with the two injured men because he was dressed similarly and was also very dirty.

Mrs Samuels ran to the pub to get a towel. When she returned she cannot remember whether the third man was still there.

She said: "I know they shouldn't have been up there, but, at the end of the day, they were both somebody's sons."

The Northern Echo understands the shop has been broken into before.

Nobody at the store was available for comment yesterday, but it was open as usual.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 326326.