POLICE patrols have been stepped up at a Leigh park to deter antisocial yobs who leave broken glass strewn about the playground.

Residents have raised concerns about Bonchurch Park, off Manchester Drive, where there have been reports of underage drinking at night and litter, including broken bottles and empty cans.

The issue was raised at a meeting of Leigh Crime Prevention Panel, but officers have already moved to tackle complaints. They have been conducting high-visibility patrols, along with members of the Youth Offending Service, and have been seizing alcohol.

Insp Dave Colwell, of Leigh police, said they were receiving fewer calls about the problem than 18 months ago.

He added: “What we are talking about is people under the age of 18 gathering, probably consuming alcohol, and generally causing noise nuisance and smashing bottles in the park.

“This has an effect for other children using the playground and park areas.

“I know the local neighbourhood policing team, accompanied by officers from youth offending, have seized alcohol, taken names and addresses of people and followed that up with chats to the parents.”

Nicola Britton, a 35-year-old mother, of Manchester Drive, welcomed patrols by the police because she said she was sick of the broken glass.

She added: “It was always at night when there were no adults about.

“You would only know about it the next day when you saw the residue of the night before.”

Town councillor Peter Dolby, who chairs the Leigh Crime Prevention Panel, said: “It was reported to me and I went down there to look.

“There was a lot of graffiti, and residents had told us they had stopped walking their dogs because of the broken bottles.”

Mr Dolby said the graffiti had been cleaned up since the problem was raised.