THE leader of Bolton Council believes there needs to be a zero-tolerance policy to help cut down on anti-social behaviour.

Several residents have complained about ongoing problems in council leader Cllr David Greenhalgh’s ward of Bromley Cross.

One pensioner said she had seen groups as large as 20 or 30 young people gathering outside her home in Darwen Road. The youngsters have been spotted using drugs and dealing, as well as dropping litter and playing loud music late at night.

The pensioner, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s disgusting up here now. I was born on Darwen Road 80 years ago and I know you have to have progress and things have to change but I lost my husband last year and if he had still been here he would have been shocked.”

She recalls seeing a pair of youngsters bury something in the grass across the road from her home only to dig it up and find what is thought to have been cannabis.

“I got my gardening gloves and went down there and I found a bag of cannabis,” she explained.

“Where are the parents? They have no control and they don’t care a bit about what their children are doing and where they are.”

Cllr David Greenhalgh said the council was working with police to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the area.

“It isn’t just groups of people congregating, they are up to no good as well,” Cllr Greenhalgh said.

“The problem with something like this is that we are only dispersing it, which is why we have got the outreach teams travelling around the are.

“It’s a really challenging issue but we are doing all we can. We want to pursue the police to have a zero tolerance approach.

“It’s not that these kids have no were to go because they are actually intimidating younger children who are involved in clubs or sports and trying to ruin it for them as well.”

Nadim Muslim represents Bromley Cross as a councillor and works as the cabinet member for stronger communities.

He urged people who spot anti-social behaviour to report it to police.

He said: “People need to make sure that they do report it. People think nothing will happen with that information but GMP will use it.”

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “When we come to ask for the funding for this next time they will look for data and we need that data to support what we’re seeing in the streets.”

To report crime, contact 101 or visit www.gmp.police.uk.