BUS stop-style shelters are the latest weapon in the fight against anti-social behaviour.

Police hope the shelters - named "teen meets" - will give youngsters a dry place to congregate in the evenings while allowing officers to keep an eye on them.

The shelters have a metal frame and polypropelene roof and also have bench-style seating.

They have already been installed by police and councils across the south of England and they have also been introduced in Wigan.

Police on the west side of Bolton intend to buy one shelter and begin a pilot scheme in Westhoughton so that they can judge its success.

If the scheme provides a solution to the problem of juvenile nuisance, more shelters could be installed across the town.

Sgt Joy McMahon, of Bolton Police, said: "We've consulted with youngsters in Westhoughton and what they want is somewhere they can go in the evenings to be with friends.

"This will allow us to keep an eye on one particular area and monitor behaviour.

"The shelter will belong to the youngsters and it will be their responsibility, but with that will come a charter of behaviour which they will have to abide by."

Police are keen to reduce juvenile nuisance in Westhoughton after a string of late-night disturbances in the town, particularly in the Market Street area.

Squads made up of council enforcement officers and police have patrolled the town centre and handed out dozens of fixed penalty fines for littering and drunken behaviour. A ban on drinking in the town centre is also being enforced.

"As well continuing to hand out fixed penalty fines, we will work with Trading Standards to try to stop youngsters getting hold of alcohol," said Sgt McMahon.

Westhoughton councillor and executive member for the environment on Bolton Council, David Wilkinson said: "This is something we have been looking at for a while now but the problem we face is finding somewhere to put the shelter where it's not going to cause any sort of nuisance to people.

"Central Park has been suggested and we are working closely with the police to push things forward."

A spokesman for Urban Engineers who builds the shelters said: "They are becoming increasingly popular with police and local authorities who want to provide a safe place for youngsters to gather."