RESIDENTS in another part of Bolton told today of how anti-social behaviour is ruining their lives.

Following reports in the Bolton Evening News yesterday of vandalism and abuse in Farnworth and Hall i'th' Wood, residents in Halliwell say yobs have turned their area into a no-go zone.

Smashed windows, abusive langauge and theft are becoming common and local people are urging police to take more action to keep their streets safe.

One shopkeeper in Halliwell Road said: "I have been here for 18 years and never experienced anything like this before.

"Every single night, the same group of youths are out smashing windows and abusing customers and residents.

"My shop windows are smashed in but I refuse to fix them as they will only be broken again. I want the police and council to see the damage being done."

"The police tell us they are doing everything possible but if they were just to put their foot down, they could stop this within a week."

Gillian Hughes, Bolton Council's strategy manager for anti-social behaviour, said: "The individuals involved have been identified and we are pursuing the case.

"We will not tolerate what is happening. The council is working closely with the police to gather as much evidence as we can, which takes time and cannot happen overnight."

The problems with anti-social behaviour is not just confined to the Halliwell area. Residents are up in arms all over the borough over problems with vandalism, nuisance, drinking and abuse of local residents who have the courage to challenge the gangs.

There have been problems with teenage drinkers causing trouble in Bromley Cross and in Westhoughton.

And yobs have also caused mayhem with continuing anti-social behaviour in Farnworth and Great Lever and on most of the major estates in Bolton.

In Hall i'th' Wood spy cameras set up to monitor the crime plagued estate and deter anti-social behaviour - have been vandalised.

Two CCTV cameras on the Hall i'th' Wood estate have been left out of action after young troublemakers ripped wiring from them last month.

But according to some residents on East Way, the surveillance units have done little to cut down on the wave of anti-social behaviour which is sweeping the estate - even before the cameras were damaged.

One resident has endured slabs of rock being thrown at her windows and a settee set on fire outside council offices.

Other residents have had to put up with teenagers drinking alcohol on the streets and abusing them.