Police have stepped up patrols in Bolton to crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Officers say they have been visiting known hotspots - which vary from parks to schools.

The crackdown is part of the Safe4Summer campaign.

In one day, neighbourhood officers visited Leverhulme Park as well as Westhoughton Leisure Centre.

A spokesman for GMP Bolton West said: "The Bolton West Neighbourhood Team were out and about yesterday as part of Safe4Summer. Officers dealt with ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and visited hot spot areas including Leverhulme Park, Firwood High School, New House Farm playing fields, Bromley Cross shops, Westhoughton Leisure Centre, Westhoughton Park and Eatock Lodge."

He added that the crackdown would continue with officers will being out on patrol again today.

As well as the crackdown a host of activities are being put on over the summer as part of the annual campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour and keep young people safe.

The campaign brings together Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), local councils and other key partners.

The campaign focuses on the types of ASB that is typically seen more of during the summer months than winter.

Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Bradley, GMP’s lead for ASB, said: “Summer is the time of year when anti-social behaviour often spikes, causing concern and distress for local communities and acts as a drain on emergency services resources.

"The partnership is committed to tackling ASB, as we understand how distressing this type of behaviour can be and the lasting impact it can have on individuals, families and the local community.

"ASB can be caused deliberately by people wanting to inflict harm or distress, but more frequently, it is people not thinking about how their actions might be received or affect others, so we’ll be working with the public to increase people’s understanding of what ASB is.”

Billy Fenwick, Head of Prevention at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Deliberate fires are just one of the many incidents of anti-social behaviour we see occur over the summer months. This year, GMFRS continue to work with partners during the Safe4Summer campaign to protect our communities and are urging young people to think about the risks and consequences of their actions when enjoying the warmer weather over summer. By playing their part, we can make sure this summer is a safe one for everyone.”

Local authorities are each hosting various activities throughout the summer months, which you can access via the council websites, or via the activities section on the Safe4Summer website.

When left unchecked, ASB can have a devastating impact on victims say police and add it is important that any offences are reported to the police.

People can report any instances of ASB using LiveChat or online reporting at https://www.gmp.police.uk/.