A PUB landlord, a model railway salesman, a yoga guru and an engineer are battling to be elected in one of Bolton's key wards - Little Lever and Darcy Lever.

Rees Gibbon, landlord at The Jolly Carter in Little Lever for 27 years, is making his first foray into local politics at the age of 68 after agreeing to stand for the Conservatives.

He is hoping to unseat current ward member, Labour Cllr Tony Connell, a 65-year-old former engineer, who has been a councillor for 17 years . . . and plays darts at Mr Gibbon's pub.

A close battle is expected with the Liberal Democrats and the Green party also contesting the seat.

The ward seat contested in last year's Bolton Council elections was held for Labour by Sean Hornby with a majority of just 146 over the Conservatives.

Alwynne Cartmell, who runs Little Lever-based yoga and stress management company Well Being Workshops, came third for the Greens last year and is again standing.

Liberal Democrat candidate Eric Hyde sells model railways in the region for Gaugemaster Control and is hoping to improve on his party's fourth place last year.

All four candidates say ending anti-social behaviour, which has blighted the ward recently, is a priority issue.

Bus shelters in front of Little Lever Secondary School and on the corner of Melrose Road and Church Street were recently vandalised.

Gangs of up to 40 youngsters drinking and damaging shops and passing cars have also been reported and a CCTV camera has now been put in place opposite the Little Lever shopping precinct to help catch the culprits.

Cllr Connell, of Elm Road, Little Lever, has helped arrange a public meeting for youngsters at Mytham Primary School on Thursday to find out what facilities they would like and discuss the idea of setting up a youth council.

He said: "Tough measures are needed to successfully tackle anti-social behaviour.

"There must be greater use of CCTV, but at the same time we must address its causes.

"In particular, young people should have safe places to play and hang out."

Cllr Connell pointed to the refurbishment of the Mytham Park play area and creation of a new play facility off Surrey Close.

He added that he would push for funding to improve footpaths on the Ladyshore estate after helping to secure re-surfacing of Hayward Avenue and finance for the re-surfacing of Fearneyside.

Mr Gibbon, who says he supports this week's meeting, said: "At the moment there is very little for young people to do. We've a youth club, but that's about the size of it and the devil will find work for idle hands.

"This behaviour is a cry for help, but unless we understand what these young people want, we have little chance of putting it right."

Mr Gibbon says he is standing in a bid to help halt what he sees as the deterioration of an area he loves and promised to work to improve the roads and "fetch back" community spirit.

Ms Cartmell, aged 59, of Aintree Road, Little Lever, backed the idea of more facilities for youngsters and said she would campaign for a greater police presence.

She believes the solution to anti-social behaviour could lie in the home and wants more support given to parents, who she says "have to be firm and consistent".

Ms Cartmell also promised to address problems with potholed roads and litter and brighten up the "shabby" area with hanging baskets.

Mr Hyde, aged 63, of Beedon Avenue, Little Lever, was last in politics as a Liberal member on Salford City Council, from 1968 to 1970.

He said: "There is not a lot for young people to do at the moment, but even if there was it would not necessarily stop everybody. You have to educate people. It should start in schools and you also have to appeal to the parents.

"I would also campaign for a greater police presence at night."

The Little Lever and Darcy Lever seat is one of 20 to be contested on May 3 - one in each of the council's 20 wards.

The present make-up of the council is Labour 24, Conservatives 21 and the Liberal Democrats 15.

l Tomorrow we turn the spotlight on the Horwich and Blackrod ward.