Police have arrested a male just days after stepping up patrols in Astley Bridge after a spate of criminal damage.

The male was arrested by officers on Saturday afternoon after a number of vehicles were damaged in the area.

Police say they have received a number of reports of damage to cars and other vehicles over the past few weeks.

The suspect, whose age has not been released, was taken into custody and interviewed over the weekend.

Police praised local residents for helping officers by providing information, including CCTV.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We would like to thank the community in coming forward with CCTV and photographs which have enabled us identify and arrest this male - we could not have done this without you. If you have any further information, photographs or CCTV, please e-mail us at BoltonNorth@gmp.police.uk

"If you think you have been a victim of this or any other crime please report this via https://crowd.in/A9ur4j, 101 or in an emergency 999."

Police increased patrols in the Astley Bridge area at the end of last month.

This has included officers in uniform and in plain clothes and police have also unmarked cars.

Police said there had been a number of criminal damage offences in the area of Hawarden Street.

Councillors welcomed the move to increase officers in the area.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough said there had been incidents of cars being deliberately vandalised,

"It’s the sort of low-level crime that impacts people’s quality of life, especially with the cost-of-living crisis. It’s not fair to people."