POLICE are urging parents to make sure they know where their children are at night after a recent spike in anti-social behaviour.

Harwood has been blighted by large groups of teenagers congregating together throughout this year.

It came to a head in April when around 100 youths gathered at the derelict Bolton Open Golf Course clubhouse.

In one incident firefighters were pelted with items as they tackled a fire teenagers had started.

The building has now been demolished but officers have experienced a spike in anti-social behaviour in recent weeks.

The groups have been gathering at Morrisons and Longsight Park and police in the area are asking parents to monitor their teenagers whereabouts overnight.

Police said there has been recent reports of loud noise and fires in the park, disturbing residents until 4am.

As well as parents being asked to keep an eye on their children, people are being urged to report matters of anti-social behaviour to the police.

The youths have allegedly damaged the changing rooms at the park as well as spraying graffiti.

Cllr Jacqueline Radcliffe, who represents Bradshaw and lives near Longsight Park said: "It is nowhere near as bad as it was earlier this year.

"They are going into the park, they are going further into the park. They are going out late into the evening and sitting on the park benches.

"I don't know what they are doing but I have seen them lighting something on the bench table. I can't see what it is.

"I know there has been graffiti in the park. I know there has also been trouble at Tottington Road Methodist Church."

Cllr Radcliffe has called for the problem to be clamped down on before it escalates again and will be raising it at an upcoming council meeting.

She added: "It needs to be clamped down on. We need to make an example of them and bring the parents in and make them aware of what is happening.

"They have taken two doors off the changing room. There is nothing they can damage in the changing room but they have taken the doors."

Earlier this month Inspector John Scott, who is in charge of policing in Harwood, spoke about what police have been doing to keep the area safe.

He spoke of how the groups were using social media to arrange meet ups with people from across Bolton.

Youth outreach workers supported police action when they engaged with the groups and the teenagers were directed to youth provision across the borough.

Arrests and referrals to the anti-social behaviour pathway, which can see community orders placed on offenders by the courts.