A COUNCILLOR is hoping blueprints for eight new apartments will force boozing teenagers away from a popular hangout.

Cllr Mary Woodward says the proposals for Fletcher Street, Little Lever, could send anti-social louts packing.

She says they congregate on a well-used footpath behind the village scout hut. The councillor has welcomed the plans put forward by developer Northworth Ltd.

Large gangs of teenagers, aged between 13 and 15, are making the lives of residents on Aintree Road a misery by continually vandalising their back garden fences.

Villagers are left counting the cost of damage to the fences which are lifted out of the ground or ripped to pieces.

But if planning bosses at Bolton Council approve plans for the apartments, Cllr Woodward wants the application to include security lighting to deter the yobs from meeting on the footpath.

Police have been informed about the nuisance that the youths are causing.

The land is situated on the former site of the Salvation Army base, which was subsequently used as a snooker hall. The premises were demolished last year.

Cllr Woodward said: "It's becoming a problem for many of the residents. We have done a lot of work in the village to get rid of this loutish behaviour. But there are still hotspots that need to be addressed.

"It doesn't help when older people, who should know better, go into off-licences and buy alcohol for these youngsters.

"There are no objections to the development itself. The place is a mess so these flats can only enhance the area."

Villagers are working with council chiefs and police to stamp out unruly teenagers which was the subject of a meeting held by Little Lever West Resident's Association last week.

Community police officers are encouraging children to participate in more social activities and sports during the school holidays.