COMMUNITY leaders and police have joined forces to combat youth nuisance problems in a popular park.

Local residents have complained of drunken teenagers causing trouble in Rayner Park at Hindley.

Now Hindley area constable Mark Schofield and Cllr Stuart Shaw, joint chairman of the Hindley-Abram Twin Ward Risk Management Group and chair of the local Risk Management Group, have joined forces to try and resolve the problems.

Over recent weeks locals have reported trouble being caused by groups of up to 70 young people aged between 15 and 18 who converge on the children's play area smashing bottles and causing havoc in the park off Danes Avenue.

PC Schofield said: "Very probably a minority of young people are causing the problems and when they have been spoken to about the problems many have been shocked at the complaints from residents.

"It is the perennial problem of the young people having nothing to do and nowhere to go. They have been told that if they behave like adults they can stay, but the behaviour must improve."

To tackle the problems Cllr Shaw will contact various Council departments to see what can be done to clean up the area while PC Schofield said the area will be targeted through more police resources.

Parents are being urged to ensure their children are staying out trouble and respecting others.

PC Schofield said: "The message we would send out to parents is do you know where your child is going at night? And do you know if they are drinking alcohol? This is a problem that will not be solved by the police or Council alone and we must have the parents on-side if we are to put an end to this problem."