TEENAGE tearaways have turned parts of Great Lever into night time "no go" areas for the elderly, Bolton's top policeman was told last night.

One elderly resident told Chief Supt Mel Pelham that he was attacked and abused by one gang when he went to complain about the disruption they were causing near his home.

The homeowner said: "A fight developed when I went to ask them to leave. My glasses were broken and I called the police.

"I have been targeted ever since. Now they call me the 'Great Lever grass' and I am scared to go out of my home. I'm living a life of misery."

And he told the town's top policeman: "You might think there are no 'no go' areas in Bolton. But for many of us at night times there definitely are."

The resident, who did not want to be named, was one of 150 or so members of the public who attended a meeting at Bolton's Central Library last night to discuss Bolton's Crime Audit.

The joint meeting of all Bolton's police and community groups was the first of its kind called to discuss the audit.

The Bolton Crime and Disorder Audit - published in the BEN last week - revealed the most crime-ridden areas of Bolton and highlighted the key crime problems which must urgently be given extra attention.

People last night had an opportunity to raise their concerns about crime in Bolton as part of the consultation period, which will continue throughout the rest of the month.

Mr Pelham was told that trouble with youths was causing heartache for residents in many areas.

The police chief told the meeting: "I understand the real concerns that vulnerable sections of our community have - particularly the elderly - who are scared to go out in the evenings. That should not happen.

Blame

"I agree entirely we can do better. We need to focus better on how we talk to youngsters and how involved their parents are in what they get up to."

Mr Pelham said the trouble was not unique to Bolton and added: "Only a small minority of youths are to blame.

"The vast majority of our young people themselves are not prepared to put up with it any longer." The police chief added that youth problems were highlighted as a key problem in the crime audit.

Other members of the public last night felt that prostitution, and the problems it is now causing in residential areas of Bolton, should also be featured in the audit.

Cllr Frank White, a member of the police authority, said the consultation period was giving people a chance to play a positive role in developing policing strategy.

"It is the first time we have had this opportunity," said Cllr White. "The silent majority has no longer to be silent. It has to play its part. We have the chance to express our views on how the town is policed in the future."

"It's an opportunity we have to grasp."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.