The as yet unidentified man, who goes by the online name of Patch, is part of a growing breed of daredevils who risk life and limb to scale buildings.

Known as Urban Explorers, these adrenalin junkies then post photographs on the internet - boasting of their exploits.

Patch, who admits to being a student, posted the dramatic shots on his website at the end of last year and detailed how he went about first breaking in to the site and then tackling the climb.

He wrote: "I was on constant alert. I knew the site had cameras, and I wasn't sure what live security was present.

"The crane I climbed was actually in a courtyard inside the college building, with the base in the underground car park below.

"I couldn't find a way into the car park in my adrenaline-fuelled panic, so I just climbed over the short gap from the floor I was on into the shaft of the crane.

"I lost count of how many ladders I climbed, but soon I was on the top part of the crane, above the roof. I looked up, and to my relief realised that there was no hatch, so I climbed out onto the top. "The cab door not being locked, so I took a seat, made a phone call, and put the radio on. After a few minutes I remembered that I needed to take some pictures.

"This was a bit tricky due to me being to lazy too carry a tripod around college all day and then up a crane, so all pictures have been taken by leaning on the crane, like a giant monopod.

"Eventually I began to make my descent, exiting the shaft the same way I had entered. Back across the building site, only then realising how overlooked it is, and then straight out through my access point, not really caring who saw me."

A spokesman for Laing O'Rourke, the firm which is building the college, said: "A trespasser recently gained entry to Hastings College construction site and local police and Laing O'Rourke security teams are working together to identify the offender.

"We deplore all behaviour of this nature. Construction sites are inherently dangerous places and under no circumstances should be entered by members of the public."

Hastings Police has urged others not to follow Patch's example.