A BOLTON policeman killed in a road accident has left a legacy to improve the lives of youths on the estate he patrolled.

Sgt Mick Bradford, a community area officer based at Bolton's Middle Hulton Police Station, died when his 600cc motorbike was involved in an accident with a car on the Kirkham bypass in Lancashire.

His family has now requested that donations from his funeral should go to a local youth club and towards improving the lives of residents on Bolton's troubled Paulhan Street estate.

The father of two, an officer for 23 years, spent 10 years in Bolton and served in the Great Lever and Deane areas. Sgt Bradford had been heavily involved helping secure cash aid for Great Lever and his death came only days before the Government announced a £2.6 million injection to help improve the quality of life for residents living there.

Sgt Bradford had also developed pioneering schemes to build trust between the police and youths in the area.

His family has asked that all funeral donations be sent to the Wallys youth club in Eldercot Road, Deane.

The devoted 44-year-old officer helped arrange outward bound courses for young people and in the final weeks of his life he had been putting the finishing touches to proposals for a motocross course on fields to keepp youngsters off the streets.

Dawn Wallbank, who runs the youth club with her husband Dave, said: "He was Mr Nice Guy. "He was on our level and never talked down to us. He did so much for people in the area."

Bolton Council youth service worker Cath Boland paid tribute to the officer, adding: "This is such a tragic loss.

"He was the kind of person who cared so much for young people and wanted the best for them. When I told lads of 17 and 18 about what had happened they were absolutely shattered."

In February Sgt Bradford was praised by Her Majesty's Inspector for the Constabulary, after he presented a plan which would revamp the Paulhan Street area.

The regeneration blueprint focused on a partnership with other agencies -- including the council and health authority -- to tackle vandalism and crime.

Today police chiefs said that the officer's death had rocked the force.

Chief Insp Alan Greene, of Bolton Central police station, said: "Mick was everything you would want a police officer to be. He was courageous and thoughtful.

"He commanded respect from all the people he supervised and he really cared about making life better for the people in the area where he worked.

"He was the best of men and he will be missed. Everyone on the division is devastated."

During a distinguished police career, in which he was commended for restraining a man armed with a knife, Sgt Bradford served in the Tactical Aid Unit as well as spending two years as a firearms officer.

His eldest daughter, Nikola, aged 24, only learned of her father's death when she jetted home from a holiday in Cyprus.

She is now being comforted by her mother Joanne and 21-year-old sister Erika. Sgt Bradford also leaves his mother, Violet, and brother Kevin.

His funeral will take place at St Wilfrid's Church, Rectory Lane, Standish on Monday.