RESIDENTS continue to face problems with anti-social behaviour in an area that has been blighted in recent months.

Bradshaw and Harwood neighbours have been hit by a number of incidents involving large groups of youths.

Longsight Park and Bradshaw Cricket Club are two of the areas that have faced problems.

At Wednesday's Bradshaw Area Forum meeting residents described the issues and how people have continued to face problems.

Police did not attend the meeting as resources were being deployed patrolling and pursuing criminals.

Dr Jane Wilcock, secretary of the Friends of Longsight Park, said: "We do get a lot of arson. I caught three lads on Saturday. They were setting fire to the trees.

"There is a lot of spice in the park. These lads just panicked. They didn't think they were burning a 30-year-old tree.

"There are a lot of fires, a lot of trees being burnt."

She said there was graffiti in the park and one recent incident of obscene graffiti on a footpath in the park had to be painted over by Bolton Council.

At the start of September, a gang of teenagers went on a 'rampage' at Bradshaw Cricket Club and used a sight screen to block police getting to them.

One member was abused and had items thrown at him when he confronted the group.

One club volunteer, speaking at the meeting, said: "I'm sorry the police are not here now.

"We had £3,000 of damage last year and £500 this year. One of our members had to lock himself in. We are getting absolutely nowhere.

"The person locked in thought there were about seven of them. He went to confront them and 30 came from under the covers.

"He called 101 and got no response whatsoever. They were abusing him, throwing things at him.

"They damage the bowling green and they are riding bikes around it. Why do they do it?"

Bradshaw councillor, Jacqueline Radcliffe reassured residents they will be informing the police.

She said: "We are going to be speaking to them in the next couple of weeks."

Cllr Stuart Haslam added: "We asked the police to come to this meeting and they said resources were better spent on the beat."