THREE extra community crimefighters are set to be drafted in to patrol a troubled estate in Little Hulton.

The Neighbourhood Liaison Officers will monitor levels of crime and nuisance on the Kenyon Way estate, offering assistance to police and council authorities.

They will join Little Hulton's two current officers working to rid the area of its crime-fuelled reputation.

The voluntary posts are being appointed and trained by Salford Council.

The officers' duties will include:

Recording and reporting environmental and other types of nuisance and crime

Assisting the elderly

Helping residents with disabilities and people from minority ethnic communities

Checking empty pro-perties

Reporting problems to relevant authorities

A spokesman for Salford Council said the three extra Neighbourhood Liaison Officers could start work across the estate "within two or three months."

The spokesman added: "The overall purpose of the liaison workers is to build community confidence by caring for the appearance and management of the neighbourhood. We want people in the area to feel safe as they go about their lives."

Little Hulton and Kenyon Way have both hit the headlines in recent weeks.

Manchester bus company First cancelled six of its evening bus services on routes through Little Hulton, including Kenyon Way, in response to a series of vandal attacks.

Two services have now returned from 6pm although three continue to follow diverted routes.

Police travelling on board an empty "ghost bus" in a bid to catch the culprits also caught a yob on video camera as he hurled a brick missile at a bus.

A fire engine responding to a 999 call also had a brick thrown at its window near the street.

In June 2001, a similar scheme was piloted on Swinton's Valley Estate which council chiefs say was successful in helping to fight crime, tackle deprivation and restore community confidence.

Its success prompted the appointment of 12 extra liaison workers across Salford after council chiefs were awarded a Government grant of £250,000.

Little Hulton's three extra officers are a further extension of that scheme.