FIRE crews were called to a former golf clubhouse after youths set fire to piles of wood.

Demolition work at Bolton Open Golf Club in Longsight Road, Harwood, started earlier this month and residents hoped the move would help tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.

But crews from Bolton were called to the site at 9pm on Saturday, after a group of around 10 teenagers set fire to pieces of wood left from the demolition.

Watch manager Mick Hodson said: “We sent messages through to parents asking them to make sure they knew where their children were at night.

“But they’re still gathering at the site and starting these fires. When we got there there were around 10 youths but most disperse when they hear we are coming.”

Youths from across Bolton are said to have been meeting at the old clubhouse, dragging wheelie bins from nearby houses as well as breaking off fence panels to start fires, over the past few months.

Fire and police have been called to the Longsight Road area a number of times in response to anti-social behaviour tying up resources.

Cllr Jacqueline Radcliffe said: “We weren’t aware of anything on Saturday night but I do know that youths are still gathering there.

“It’s shocking that in light of this week’s tragic events these teenagers are still wasting fire resources.

“There is a security man who guards the site and I saw him the week before last when he said they were a nuisance.

“They had jumped over the boundary fence around what’s left of the building and were climbing around but it isn’t safe, it’s just a pile of rubble.”

Last month Bolton Council served the owners of the building with an enforcement notices after being asked to inspect the building by the fire service.