AN 85-year-old was among scores of people added to a Bolton Council database of potentially “threatening” residents.

Figures reveal there were 91 people added to the authority’s “cautionary contact list” between 2011-13.

The database contains information about residents who may be deemed a potential threat to council staff carrying out home visits, and of the 91 people added to the list, 12 were aged 60 or older.

The youngest people added were two 19-year-olds.

Figures were uncovered after Freedom of Information requests were submitted to 150 local authorities, with just over half of them saying they kept the lists, and among the people included nationally were a seven-year-old girl and a 91-year-old man.

In Greater Manchester, authorities including Oldham, Trafford and Bury said they did not keep such a database, while Manchester had added 65 people to its list since 2011.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “The council has a duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and to ensure they are not placed at risk when they go about their daily work.

“The cautionary contact list provides employees with information on people who have previously displayed violent or aggressive behaviour towards council employees.

“It is only used by employees who visit or interview customers primarily in their own homes.

“The information is limited but sufficient enough for an employee to make a decision whether it is safe to visit alone or in pairs or if to make alternative arrangements.

“Information is monitored to ensure that it is fair and balanced to the customer.”

A spokesman for the Local Government Association — the body which represents councils nationally — said: "Recording instances where staff have been subject to unacceptable behaviour — including physical assaults, threats of violence, intimidation with dangerous dogs and even inappropriate sexual behaviour — is an important part of ensuring our employees can go about their daily work without fear or harassment and the public is protected when we are aware of a risk.

"However, councils recognise there needs to be a common sense approach to how they make staff aware of any perceived risks and any information will be routinely reviewed to ensure it is proportionate."