POLICE say they are winning the battle against criminals in Little Hulton after making the area a priority target.

The reduction in crime and a drop in juvenile nuisance has improved the quality of life for many residents.

Little Hulton is one of five Priority Policing Areas across the UK which has been handed cash by the Government in a bid to wipe out crime and target unruly teenagers.

Chief Inspector Jon Faulkner has announced that the Home Office scheme will be extended until December.

He said: "Apart from vehicle crime - which was showing a slight increase at the end of the year - other crimes have seen a fairly consistent decrease in the number of incidents."

He said the introduction of CCTV had led to a marked decrease in youth nuisance incidents. He added that activities which had been organised for young people, especially around school holidays, had also been beneficial.

DI Faulkner said policing had been remodelled into neighbourhood services which had freed up a number of officers, giving a more visible police presence on the streets. Support is being offered to parents in a bid to prevent teenagers from becoming involved in crime, and money from the Youth Action Key Fund is helping youngsters join in drama and arts projects.

Police have pledged to station an officer at Walkden High School to develop relationships with teenagers.

The trouble, however, has not disappeared, and a meeting will take place next Tuesday to discuss how to tackle anti-social behaviour and vandalism on the Armitage Estate.

Residents say they are still plagued by youngsters riding noisy motorised scooters along the pavements.