RESIDENTS are waging a campaign against Bolton Council plans to build a Sure Start centre in Kearsley.

A £7 million Government grant was awarded to the council last year for nine new children's centres across the borough.

And the council wants to build one of them on a site at Springfield Road, Kearsley.

Sure Start centres offer nursery and creche facilities, health and ante-natal services, family support, and employment training.

But residents near the proposed site in Kearsley have started a petition to stop the centre being built there. More than 120 people have signed it.

The residents are concerned that a new building, which will cost up to £500,000, will attract anti-social youths after dark and they fear outdoor play equipment will be vandalised.

Steven Entwistle, who lives in Mossfield Road, which backs on to the site, canvassed the area with a petition.

He said: "The residents feel they have not been consulted enough about this application.

"There are mine shafts on the proposed site too, which could cause some problems.

"One of the main concerns is that it will attract youths, because it will give them somewhere to shelter.

"We already have enough of that and don't want to encourage them.

"We have a community centre in Grosvenor Street and don't understand why we need another building on one of the only open spaces left in Kearsley."

A council spokesman said: "The Government has pledged money to develop a children's centre for every community by 2010.

"We are planning an extensive consultation programme with people living in the Kearsley area, so they can hear more about the advantages of having a centre in their community."

Subject to successful planning applications, other centres will be built in Little Lever, Horwich, Sharples, Leverhulme Park, Westhoughton, Farnworth, Halliwell and Top o' th' Brow.