NEIGHBOURS from hell face a new challenge with the launch of a witness support service in Little Hulton and Farnworth.

The Witness Outreach Service starts next month and aims to persuade people to report instances of anti-social behaviour.

Organisers hope it will clamp down on crime, noise nuisance and other anti-social problems in the two towns.

The group will work with housing departments and community groups and is being funded by the Little Hulton and Farnworth Partnership and Salford City Council.

Councillor Noel Spencer, joint chairman of the partnership's steering committee, said: "A key aim is to make residents feel safer in their homes and the development of the Witness Outreach Service will strengthen support in the community for residents who have seen or been affected by crime or anti-social behaviour."

The new service will be set up after the magistrates' court Witness Support Service hands over its role to the national Victim Support organisation on April 2.

The change has been made following £3 million from the Home Office.

Maureen Mather, project worker, said: "We would like to emphasise that this will free us to focus more on the community, in particular on anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood nuisance.

"We envisage this work will still need a lot of volunteers, as more time will be put into community work with witnesses.

"We will be recruiting more volunteers in the near future."