BOLTON council is poised to appoint a new officer to lead a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

The decision marks an heightened emphasis on powerful new Anti Social Behaviour Orders which leave troublemakers facing sterner sentences if conditions are broken.

The BEN revealed in September that no ASBOs had been used in Bolton, with council chiefs preferring to use them as a last resort. Around 100 had been used nationwide, including neighbouring Blackburn.

Council surveys have shown that troublesome neighbours are among the top concerns of Bolton communities. It is widely agreed that a tiny number of troublemakers can cause a huge headache.

Proposals to create a post overseeing the council's response to anti-social behaviour - which can range from dropping litter and disturbing neighbours to criminal offences - mark a toughening of the council's stance.

At present most complaints are dealt with by the environmental health and housing departments but council chiefs say having one officer with overall responsibility will enable them to take more decisive action.

Cllr Frank White, executive member for social inclusion and community safety, said: "The council takes this problem very seriously and although there's a lot of action already being undertaken in Bolton this about stepping up our activities.

"It's about turning despair into hope and setting up the machinery where people can come for help.

"We are determined to meet this problem head on at the highest level. Why should people's lives be ruined by a small minority?"

The five areas with the highest crime rates - where efforts are likely to be concentrated - are Deane, Farnworth, Willows and Lever Edge, Halliwell and the Chorley Old Road/Chorley New Road triangle and the Manchester Road corridor.

Full details of the anti-social behaviour officer's post have yet to be finalised.