A NEW group could be launched to combat knife crime and other anti-social behaviour across Bury.

After reading a post on Facebook about a 15-year-old boy being “jumped in the town centre”, a mother-of-one has decided to take action.

A meeting is due to be called in the next few weeks to bring people together to prevent crime, particularly among young people.

Hollie O’Neill, aged 28 from the Fairfield area of Bury, said: “I have seen too much if this lately. I think it is time to stand up. There needs to be a serious crackdown on this kind of behaviour.”

Miss O’Neill has created a new Facebook page called Bring back a better Bury and is urging residents to join.

She has also contacted James Frith, MP for Bury North, asking him to attend a meeting that is currently being organised to tackle crime. She is also hoping to connect with the local policing teams.

Miss O’Neill said: “There seems to be a trail of offences committed by large groups of youths in Bury. I saw a post about a knife crime and last summer I witnesses a group of teenagers throwing rocks at an elderly couple in Bell Lane. This sort of thing should never happen. Something needs to be done.

“I have created a page to bring people together to share about personal encounters and put forward constructive ideas to respond to anti-social behaviour.

"My focus is going to be on prevention and intervention. Perhaps there are ways we can engage young people in sport and get them off the streets, or perhaps we can start a youth group."

To find out more, visit Bring back a better Bury on Facebook.