A HOMEWATCH conference will take place in Bolton to encourage the creation of new neighbourhood schemes.

Police say they want to work with communities to reduce crime, using the homewatch groups.

The annual conference will take place on Thursday, September 20, at 5.30pm in the Festival Hall at Bolton Town Hall.

The event is for Homewatch co-ordinators and members, as well as people interested in Homewatch who may be thinking about setting up a scheme themselves.

It will include information about burglaries, bogus officials and vehicle crime, as well as talks from trading standards, environmental services and the fire service.

Anyone who wants to go can attend on the day, but police are also asking people to e-mail them at Bolton.partnershipteam@ gmp.police.uk