RESIDENTS are calling for a drinking ban to stop teenagers using a park for late-night binges.

People living in Wingates say they have suffered their worst ever summer for drink-fuelled crime at the hands of young louts who gather at Holden Lea, Wingates.

They have collected 200 signatures on the petition and are demanding police chiefs and council bosses act to end their misery.

Lawrence Owens, vice-chairman of the Wingates Tenants and Residents Association, said: "We've had cars damaged, windows broken and the place is littered with empty cans and bottles every weekend.

"Wingates needs to have an alcohol ban but it would be even better if we had a ban which covered the entire town and then nobody would have to put up with this."

Mr Owens said town centre drink bans which have been in force in Westhoughton, Horwich and Blackrod for up to a year have pushed teenage drinkers into residential areas.

He said police had targeted the youths but lacked the powers and resources to stop them drinking.

The petition has been handed to Bolton Council, Westhoughton Town Council, Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly and Insp Simon Miskell.

Insp Miskell said a drinking ban for larger parts of Bolton could be considered but it would rest on whether police and politicians could show whether "nuisance and annoyance" had been caused by drinking in public.

He said: "We are aware of the problems suffered by people in Wingates and we are there every Friday and Saturday night and have confiscated a large amount of alcohol."

Cllr Jim Gilfillan said: "We'd like to see a ban across the whole of Westhoughton.

"This is now being considered by the council's legal department and there are other areas in Westhoughton which would benefit greatly from this."