A YOUTH club leader has urged frightened residents to break a conspiracy of silence and name the burglars who have forced the club to close.

Dawn Wallbank said people were too scared to name the gang who took sweets, crisps, drink and cash worth £355 from Wallys youth club, in Eldercot Road, Deane.

Children have been left heartbroken after she was forced to close the club she set up four-and-a-half years ago until further notice.

A Christmas party and summer trips to seaside resorts have also been cancelled because the budget has been spent on making the uninsured building more secure.

Mum-of-two Dawn, aged 33, of Chip Hill Road, Deane, said Christmas had been ruined for everyone involved at Wallys by the break-in.

"It always seems that everything you do is never enough for a few individuals," she said. "They think it is okay to come along to a non-profit making youth club and take all the children's money.

"I just hope that whoever has bought the stolen goods feels as heartbroken as me.

"And when the children who use the facility are playing on the street then I hope people will feel as hurt as me and my volunteers and all of the kids."

She added: "I hope people will help in finding who did it as a few people seem to know but don't want to get involved.

"People are too scared to tell the police. The children have already told me who is responsible but I want an adult to tell me the names before I take them to the police."

The club caters for up to 40 youngsters a night, five nights a week.

Organisers say it kept children off the streets and claim the crime rate in the area went down when Wallys was open.

Supt Don Brown of Bolton police urged anyone with information about the break-in to contact the police.

He added: "People have a public duty to assist the police and help us prevent crime and protect the public."

Contact Bolton police on 0161 872 5050.