WHEN it comes to recycling, it appears Little Hulton is not at the top of the tree.

Council chiefs in Salford logged just13 calls to their Christmas tree recyling hotline from residents -- proving they are not as green-minded as they would like to think. The council's call centre received an estimated 1,257 calls for collection after the festive period and 15 tons of Christmas trees were recycled.

They have been given a new lease of life as bark chippings and will be spread on flower beds.

A spokesman said: "We logged all calls as they came in and made arrangements for pick-up -- but when we arrived there were often up to half a dozen awaiting collection.

"It seems that in many cases one person made the call then invited neighbours and familes to add to the pile." Residents in Worsley however called the council 149 times.

They were second in the league table to green-minded Eccles residents -- who called 203.

In Walkden, 125 calls were received. Only Pendleton and Langworthy were worse than Little Hulton.

COMMUNITY POLICING: Sgt Wayne Readfern outside the new mobile unit

SUPPORT: Karina Goldstrong is one of the police community support officers based at the Bolton Copshop

A NEW mobile police station designed to reduce crime and disorder has been officially opened in Halliwell by a Greater Manchester police chief.

It is called The Copshop and is the only one of its kind in Greater Manchester

It will be based at Brownlow Fold Community Learning Centre in Eskrick Street, for the next three months before moving to other areas of Bolton. It acts both as a base for police officers and a point of contact for the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Vincent Sweeny opened the new unit with senior Bolton councillor Frank White, the council's executive member for social inclusion and community safety.

It is hoped the converted 40ft freight container will act as a deterrent to potential offenders and encourage members of the public to meet and speak to the local officers based there. The Copshop will be staffed by a team of dedicated officers who will be gathering intelligence from the local community to reduce crime and disorder as well as disrupt drug markets.

PC Dean Purtill, who was originally a traffic officer, said: "I am looking forward to doing some hands on work in the local community. The Copshop will give me a chance to get to grips with local issues at community level."

Sgt Wayne Readfern added: "The Copshop gives us the chance to do the things we joined the police to do, listening to community views on policing and zoning in on the real problems in the area."

Two of GMP's newest recruits, the Police Community Support Officers Karina Goldstrong and Geoff Taylor, are also to be based at the Copshop.

Simon Tovell, GMP's Liaison Officer for Bolton Council said: "A mobile police unit placed right in the heart of the community is an effective way of ensuring that we can make improvements and that they are sustainable."