A GREAT Lever street has been given a green makeover - a move that could help reduce crime.

Environmental charity Red Rose Forest and recycling firm Viridor have worked together to plant five new semi-mature trees on Mancroft Terrace, off Higher Swan Lane.

Kevin Wigley, Red Rose Forest green streets project officer, is delighted with the news and said research in America suggested trees in well-looked-after areas could lead to a reduction in criminal behaviour.

He said: “Street trees do much more than just make our urban areas look nicer.

“Trees have been shown to bring a range of other benefits — greening towns and cities can improve people’s health and well-being, and can even reduce crime and encourage safer driving.

“They also help improve air quality and can help us adapt to climate change by providing shading and cooling in the summer and reduce the impact of heavy rain and prevent flooding in the winter.”

Patrick Killeen, Viridor operations manager, said: “This is about giving something back; to the communities where we work, to our customers, and to our customer’s neighbours. Viridor is committed to reducing its environmental impact and to making urban areas greener and more pleasant places to live and work.

“Projects like these with Red Rose Forest are making our towns and cities just that little bit greener - which is good for the environment and good for the people who live in these places.”

Eight Himalayan birch trees have also been planted in Prescott Lane, Wigan, as part of the same initiative.