NEW Year's Eve passed off relatively peacefully in Bolton — with fewer problems than a normal Saturday night.

Police say they did not have to draft any extra officers into the town centre to deal with incidents and Bolton Street Angels volunteers said revellers were subdued compared to previous years.

Street Angel Adrienne Tonge, who kept an audio diary of her evening, which was broadcast on the Radio 4 Today programme, said the town only appeared to getting busy after midnight.

"It wasn't like a mad New Year's Eve we were expecting it to be," said Mrs Tonge.

 

"People appeared to be coming in to town after going to private parties."

However, many people heading for a good time in the town appeared to have already started drinking.

"The pre-loading was more obvious than I have ever known it before," she said, adding that volunteers picked up more than 100 wine and beer bottles dropped by revellers getting out of taxis.

Mrs Tonge was one of three street angels patrolling the town centre through the night until 3.30am, handing out water and flip-flops to a total of 14 people who needed their help.

Licensing problems meant the En-Vogue nightspot was not open, The Venue on Churchgate was also shut and Downtown was operating a ticket only event on New Year's Eve and apart from a few isolated altercations around the town centre people remained good natured.

"I think the work that has been put in over the last 12 months by the Night-time Economy Group and the co-operation with bars and clubs has helped keep it safer," she said.

Outside the town centre a woman was arrested for allegedly hitting a man over the head with a bottle at 6am on New Year's Day.

Police were called to Metro Cars on Tonge Moor Road after reports of a disturbance.

The man was taken to hospital with a cut to his head and the woman was arrested.

Police sealed off the Metro Cars office with crime tape whilst their inquiries into the incident continued, although the taxi firm continued working, taking telephone bookings from customers.

No one was available to comment at Metro Cars.