STAFF at public tips across Bolton fear for their safety after a spate of violent incidents.

Workers claim they have been threatened by people who become angry when they are told they are breaking the rules of the site.

Extra CCTV cameras look set to be installed to catch culprits after more than 50 incidents were reported over the past 18 months across the county, including one case in which a Bolton security guard was beaten unconscious at a public tip in Clifton.

Staff at civic amenity sites said they are frequently confronted and verbally abused by people who are not dumping domestic rubbish.

Some members of the public arrive with trade waste and become angry when they are turned away.

Others shout and swear when they are caught rummaging through the skips, looking for second-hand bargains.

Tempers have also flared when people have had to queue or have not been able to access a site because of the vehicle height barriers.

Staff who say they are being threatened are employed by GM Waste Ltd, which is based at Higher Swan Lane, in Bolton.

The company's public relations assistant Daniel Gould said: "When these people are told they can't do something they become a little bit aggressive and abusive.

"Like the emergency services, we are in the line of fire and become the focus of people's aggression.

"The public should realise the staff are simply doing their job." GM Waste Ltd is contracted to run the public tips by the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, which met recently and agreed it was a serious problem which had to be tackled.

The authority chairman, Cllr Neil Swannick, said: "These attacks are simply something which must not be tolerated.

"No member of staff should have to worry about their own safety when they go to work.

"It is important we work together to develop long term plans and strategies which will reduce the unacceptable risk of members of staff having to face a verbal or physical attack."

Employees already have panic buttons and CCTV is installed in civic amenity sites across Bolton.

This could now be extended and access may become restricted at certain times so only people with recyclable waste will be able to use the site. Staffing levels may also be reviewed.

Despite the incidents, Mr Gould said GM Waste Ltd was confident the public was at no risk when using the sites.

Although most confrontations do not lead to physical violence, two night-shift security guards have been hurt recently.

Bolton man Richard Lee is still seriously ill after he was beaten into a coma by thugs at the Lumns Lane tip in Clifton four months ago.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident, which is now being treated as robbery.

Detectives were at first puzzled at the motive, but have since discovered his wallet and rings were missing.

Mr Lee was born and brought up in Bolton, but now lives in Heywood.