POLICE are appealing for volunteers to form a residents association in Hall i'th' Wood after neighbours complained that yobs were ruining the estate.

Residents claim a spate of burglaries and vandalism has left people afraid to venture out of their homes.

It is believed around 15 boilers have been stolen from homes over recent months causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Police say a man has been arrested in connection with the incidents and released on police bail.

The organiser of the last residents' association on the estate, Rita Lilley, said that, since it disbanded three years ago, anti-social behaviour on the estate had flourished.

The 63-year-old grandmother, of Crompton Way, added: "People are afraid to go out and if they see certain people around here they will go straight home out of fear they will break into their house. Many of the problems started after the residents' association finished and got worse after the housing office cut its hours to two half-days a week last year.

"It is as bad around here now as it has ever been, these people have no respect for the area.

"We stopped the residents' association because it was too much work for me and no-one wanted to take over but now something needs to be done and I would like to see the mobile Cop Shop stationed on the estate."

She also wants the council to put shutters up at the former residents association offices on Pimlott Road after a series of break ins and vandal attacks, the most recent being on Friday night when gardening equipment was stolen. Sergeant Leon Jacobs, of Bolton police, said: "There has been a spate of domestic burglaries on the estate although usually these have involved unoccupied homes. There are a couple of individual trouble makers that are being targeted.

"

We are trying to stir up support for a residents' association and what we are trying to do encourage a greater sense of local pride."

He added that weekly meetings would be held with community police officers on the estate, details of which will be announced shortly.

A spokesman for Bolton at Home said: "We are aware that a number of break-ins have occurred on Hall i'th' Wood and are treating it as a priority to work with the Police to ensure the offenders are apprehended."

Anyone with information about crimes on the estate can contact PC Nick Digner on 0161 856 5761.