POLICE officers tackling anti-social behaviour experienced a busy weekend as they were called out to areas across Bolton.

Incidents they attended included dealing with cannabis-smoking youths and children hanging around outside shops.

Earlier in the week, Bolton North’s Neighbourhood Team announced that they were out in the area on foot, bikes and cars in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Bolton North police ­— who cover Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breighmet, Bromley Cross and Crompton ­— said: “We’ve been out and about all over the division this evening and may be driving near you soon.

“There are a number of separate patrols and one on a pedal cycle.

“We are trying to attend all the areas you have highlighted as problem areas for anti-social behaviour.”

On Saturday evening, police attended Savick Avenue in Breightmet, where they found a number of youths who had been smoking cannabis.

The group were also playing loud music and discarded cans and smashed glass were seen in the vicinity.

Four males were stopped and searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act but were believed to have already consumed the cannabis, according to police.

Officers said that all the youths were given strong advice and subsequently left the area.

They added that the youths would be referred to local police partners for further work and that their parents would be informed.

Police crews also visited Blackrod, Horwich, Lostock, Heaton and Westhoughton.

They said a few children were moved on from the Lidl store in The Fairways, Westhoughton, but added that “most were behaving.”