WORRIED town centre shop workers who have been propositioned by kerb crawlers as they walk to their cars have been reassured by police.

Members of the Bolton Town Centre Partnership raised their concerns at a meeting of the traders' committee last month.

Now they have received a reply from Bolton town centre police chief Ian McLoughlin who told them police have made regular crackdowns on the notorious Shifnall Street area at the end of Bradshawgate.

Supt McLoughlin was responding to a letter sent by Crompton Place manager Arnold Wilcox Wood.

Supt McLoughlin said: "We carry out operations from time to time as resources allow to address this issue. The problem is being addressed." But Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce spokesman Kay Gregson repeated the concerns of female shop staff during a meeting of Bolton Traders' Committee.

She said: "It can be very unsettling for women walking to their cars down there after work. Women have been pestered from as early as 3pm.

"It can also be quite intimidating to walk past some of the women on the pavements in that area."

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