GANGS of rowdy youths who are blighting a beauty spot are being warned of a new police crackdown.

Officers will descend on Rumworth Lodge, Lostock, to drive out youngsters who use the area as a haven for late-night drinking - often leaving behind mountains of cans and bottles.

Police have vowed to use new powers and hi-tech CCTV equipment to trap louts.

Anyone who drops litter faces a £50 fine. They will use video evidence to prosecute those responsible for anti-social behaviour through the courts.

Insp Simon Miskell said: "We are aware of the concerns of residents and this is our response to it.

"Anti-social behaviour is one of our priorities and we have several options at our disposal to tackle anybody responsible.

"We will use the mobile video unit to record and identify any troublemakers and, where appropriate, we will prosecute them through the courts."

Residents and dog walkers around Lostock have complained to police about an increasing amount of litter in the area.

Police believe youngsters have made Rumworth Lodge a late-night hang-out after similar operations drove them out of the town centres of Horwich, Westhoughton and Blackrod.

Bolton Council enforcement officers joined police on the streets to tackle drunken litterbugs last year.

Insp Miskell said: "We have been very successful in cutting juvenile nuisance in the town centres on the west side of Bolton.

"But we now believe that there may have been a displacement effect which has meant that we are seeing problems in other areas.

"We are looking at a range of long-term solutions."

He said police would continue working with trading standards to stop the supply of alcohol to children in the Westhoughton and Horwich area.