A NEW "shop a yob" hotline has been branded a "waste of money".

Bolton Tory councillor Andy Morgan says he rang the number and was disgusted to discover his call went through to Access Bolton, the council's main switchboard.

The hotline - 0845 605 2222 - was launched on Thursday in a wave of publicity.

It is aimed at encouraging residents to give information on louts and vandals who are making their lives a misery.

Bolton was one of 49 areas chosen by the Home Office to take part in the "It's Your Call" campaign.

But Cllr Morgan said: "It is a Government gimmick that will achieve nothing.

"If calls are just going to be directed to Access Bolton, why didn't we just publicise the 333333 number instead. It just doesn't mean anything.

"People are given the impression that they will be put through to a specialist team when all the time it is just the town hall switchboard. The money could have been better spent on police officers."

The hotline was launched by BSAFE -the Safer Bolton Strategic Partnership, which was set up to help reduce crime and disorder in the borough.

It is hoped it will make it easier for local people to report anti-social behaviour and help them access services aimed at tackling problems such as nuisance neighbours, vandalism or graffiti.

Posters advertising the actionline number will be displayed throughout Bolton and residents will also receive flyers though their letterboxes informing them about the service.

If any action is taken as a result of residents' calls, they will receive follow-up cards explaining what was done.

Calls to the line are answered by an automated message which asks the caller to read out their postcode.

They are then transferred to the Bolton Council's switchboard.

When a Bolton Evening News reporter called the line he was told by a receptionist that she had not heard of the hotline.

He was put on hold for four-and-a-half minutes before he was eventually put through to the anti-social behaviour team.

Steve Agger, head of Community Safety Services at Bolton Council, said: "The calls are not just going to Access Bolton.

"Access Bolton provides us with the opportunity to co-ordinate our calls and direct them to the appropriate department or partner agency for the most effective response.

"The 'It's Your Call' campaign will provide us with is a more detailed understanding of anti-social behaviour, and, as a consequence, give us a clearer picture to enable the council and partner agencies to better plan the services to tackle anti-social behaviour and disorder."