Police have identified anti-social behaviour in Little Lever as a key priority as a group of youths cause problems for residents and businesses.

Officers from other teams across Greater Manchester Police will be brought in to help the area's neighbourhood team to crack down on such crimes.

Concerns were addressed by police at a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting at Little Lever High School.

Police Constable David Kelly said: “There is a group of kids causing the problems, for residents and for businesses.

“We will be getting help from the violence reduction teams on this.

“This a group of special constables, they work evenings.

“There is an ongoing investigation and we have identified culprits.

“Next week some of them are going to me spoken to."

PC Kelly said most parents and guardians were cooperative when spoken to by police officers about what their children had been involved in.

He said: “We can look at anti-social behaviour contracts where parents are brought in.

“They set out what people can and cannot do.

“They are managed by youth offending teams and if they do not adhere to them then they are looking at orders from the court.

“The courts want us to give these youngsters a chance.

“Normally a first antisocial behaviour letter is enough.

“Parents or guardians will see the children’s behaviour having such an impact on individuals or businesses and they will address it.

“These do not give people a criminal record.”

He added: “We can work with groups like Bolton at Home to work on things like tenancies.

“If people are allowing children to do this and we can prove it they can be in breach of tenancy orders.

“We have a hub in Scholey Street that looks at repeat offenders.”

Earlier this year, police in Bolton identified hotspots for anti-social behaviour and stepped up patrols to tackle the problem.