RESIDENTS in an area plagued by burglaries have been urged to work together and communicate with police to try and tackle the problems.

People living in Ladybridge have raised concerns over crime in the estate and met with police and council representatives on Wednesday night.

As reported, there was fears that 'vigilantes' with baseball bats could start patrolling the streets due to the lack of a police presence.

In recent months Heaton and Lostock did not have a dedicated PCSO but this is also set to change with one in the process of returning to patrolling the area.

Heaton and Lostock councillors Andy Morgan and Bob Allen met with members of Ladybridge Residents Association, Bolton Council community safety officer Sharon Pendlebury, PCSO Andy Seddon and police sergeant for the area Larraine Lister to discuss what was happening and what more residents could do after the burglaries.

Sergeant Lister told the meeting a review of police staff for the whole of Bolton has recently taken place and a presentation is due to be made to the borough's senior leadership team.

While no guarantees have been and there will be no new officers for the borough at the moment, she was hopeful Heaton, Lostock and Ladybridge could get a new PC or PCSO.

She said: "I do think there will be movement in our favour."

While there is hope that more officers could be deployed to the area, one resident said they have already noticed things starting to quieten down in the 'past two or three weeks'.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, had been set to attend the meeting to hear residents concerns to hear residents concerns but backed out.

He recently announced an increase in council tax in Greater Manchester that would pay for 50 new neighbourhood police officers across the region.

Cllr Morgan said he hoped some of these could be for Bolton.

He said: "Bolton is going to be paying for it. I think it is only right that we get our fair share.

"We would all pay a couple of quid more if it meant we were resourced better.

"We are all pulling in the same direction."

Cllr Morgan and PCSO Seddon also called for residents to not be put off if they can't get through on 101 and to make sure they are reporting crimes to the police.

PCSO Seddon added that if they have intelligence, such as the registration of a car suspected in drug dealing to report it to Crimestoppers so police can use the intelligence to act in problem areas.

Cllr Morgan said: "We must persist in recording incidents. Without that the crime didn't happen and we don't get the resources."

Ladybridge Residents Association is currently in the process of trying to set up a neighbourhood watch scheme so people can communicate better and help keep the area safe.

There is also plans to circulate home safety information around the estate to try and prevent burglaries and deter criminals.

Cllr Morgan asked residents to work together in light of reduced police resources.

He said: "We've got issues but I think the point was made that we do not want to portray Ladybridge as the crime capital of the North West."

"I think there is a lot of good work going on. I think it is about as a community working together.

"We know there is reduced resources for the police. It is not going to change at the end of the day.

"We have got to get back to the community. We have got to start looking out for each other."