A POLICE chief has condemned the actions of a mother-of-six responsible for the evacuation of homes in several Bolton streets after she planted a hoax bomb.

Catherine Kidd, aged 39, contacted the emergency services claiming that an explosive device had been put on the doorstep of her home.

Officers sealed off the area after Kidd, of Elgin Street, Halliwell, told them that she had moved the device - a bundle of fireworks wrapped in wires and brown paper - to a piece of land near her home.

Police were called to the junction of Elgin Street and Shepherd Cross Street on November 3 last year at 5pm.

A cordon was put in place and the army bomb disposal squad carried out a controlled explosion.

A number of roads were also closed in the area for over four hours.

But, as revealed in later editions of the Bolton Evening News last night, Kidd admitted planting the hoax bomb when she appeared before Bolton Crown Court.

Det Sgt Keith Isherwood, of Bolton CID, said: "We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and this was an exceptionally irresponsible act to commit.

"Kidd wasted the time and resources of the police, along with that of other emergency services, taking invaluable resources away from dealing with genuine incidents.

"Kidds actions caused a major disruption to the community and we will not tolerate such behaviour."

She pleaded guilty to a charge of "placing an article, with the appearance of an explosive device, with intent".

Kidd also pleaded guilty to providing false information to the emergency services with the intention of inducing the belief that an explosive device had been placed on Elgin Street, and wasting police time.

Kidd wept as Judge William Morris told her that a custodial sentence would have to be considered.

The case was adjourned for sentence until Friday April 22.