POLICE and town hall chiefs have moved to reassure residents living near the Bolton Gypsy and Traveller site after a series of raids on the camp.

Residents are worried after regularly seeing police outside Crompton Lodge Caravan Park on Hall Lane in Moses Gate.

Police told The Bolton News they are conducting "proactive policing operations" and that they are aware of residents' concerns.

One resident said the situation is "worrying" and people in the area are "fed up" with it.

Bolton Council executive member for environment, Cllr Adele Warren, said residents from Little Lever have contacted her about concerns over anti-social behaviour.

She said: "I want to reassure people that we are doing what we can at the moment.

"There have been reports of anti-social behaviour but we do not want to tar everyone who lives at the site with the same brush, that would be unfair. It is not the whole community.

"We want to support the community and if there is someone doing what they shouldn't be doing we will work together with our partners like the police.

"We are working with the police to make sure people feel safe and we do not want those living at the site to be discriminated."

A large police presence has been spotted at the site on a few occasions recently resulting in some vehicles being recovered.

On Thursday, April 8, eight police vehicles and armed officers were reportedly spotted at the side of the site and a helicopter was hovering overhead.

Only three days later on Sunday, April 11, a number of police cars were spotted outside the site.

And only last month, police arrested three people after officers from the Tactical Aid Unit searched the site.

Three vehicles were recovered by police during the search ­— a Volvo, a Vauxhall and a Ford Transit van.

Little Lever and Darcy Lever Cllr Sean Hornby has been approached by worried residents too.

He said: "The issue is ongoing. Residents have been in touch and have seen the amount of occasions that the site is being raided.

"There is a lot of car crime going on the area at the moment as well and it is creating a problem.

"Obviously residents are very concerned about it."

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Bolton Council are working together to tackle issues of anti-social behaviour and criminality at the site.

Inspector Duncan Haynes from GMP's Bolton Division said: "We appreciate the concerns that our communities within Little Lever and surrounding areas have raised regarding Moses Gate Country Park and we understand how disruptive criminality especially anti-social behaviour can be.

"Officers have been conducting proactive policing operations in the area as tackling this type of criminality is a priority for the local neighbourhood policing team.

"We're also working with residents and partner agencies to address concerns.

"I cannot stress the importance of the public's help in our fight against crime.

"Thanks to valuable information made by a vigilant member of the public, we have already made a number of arrests and recovered stolen vehicles.

"We take all reports extremely seriously so we would urge our communities to continue reporting incidents to ourselves."

A Bolton Council spokesman added: “The council takes all reports of alleged criminality and antisocial behaviour seriously.

“We work closely with Greater Manchester Police to identify, where possible, anyone responsible for such behaviour and ensure appropriate action is taken.”

If you have any information regarding incidents in and around the area residents can report them via the reporting function on GMP's website, through the force's LiveChat online or by calling 101.

Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Dial 999 in an emergency.