POLICE chiefs have criticised a survey which claims burglary is rife in Bolton.

Insurance giants Halifax said the town was 12th in a national league of burglary blackspots - but officers say they are the best in the region at stopping thieves.

Burglary was slashed by just under a quarter in the year until March 2005, from 4,467 reports to 3,375, making Bolton police division the best in Greater Manchester for tackling the crime.

Officers say they are on track to record a 26.6 per cent reduction in the year leading up to March, taking the total number to 2,477 - a drop of more than 2,000 burglaries in two years.

Police say a dedicated burglary unit which was set up in 2004 to target prolific offenders has also helped officers solve more crimes.

Det Chief Insp George Fawcett of Bolton CID said: "The excellent burglary figures in relation to both reduction and detections, reflect the sheer professionalism and dedication of Bolton police, the burglary unit and the BSAFE partnership in combating this problem.

"We are committed to continuing this fight and. as ever, we need the assistance of the general public, not only in ensuring that their houses are locked and secure at all times, but in them being certain that they can pass on any information to the police in confidence."

According to the survey published this week, Reading and Newbury top the league table with central London in second place, south London in third and north London in fourth.

The figures, released earlier this week by Halifax Home Insurance, are part of a campaign to highlight the most burgled towns and cities in the UK and prompt residents in those areas to step up their security even further.

Central Manchester was ranked at ninth in the list.

The league table was based on the number of insurance claims the firm had dealt with from each area.

The insurance firm said the main factor affecting burglary was lack of security.