GOOD Friday celebrations passed off peacefully this year after police stepped up patrols in Bury town centre.

As reported in Friday's Bury Times, uniformed and plain-clothed officers were maintaining a "significant"presence on the streets, visiting licensed premises to prevent under-age drinking and enforcing strict rules of no alcohol consumption in the streets.

The measures were an attempt to stop a repeat performance of Good Friday last year when drunken yobs kicked off street riots, injuring five people and forcing revellers to take refuge in town centre pubs.

But this year saw no serious incidents and has been described as "a normal Friday night".

Detective Constable Dave Looby, of Bury police, said: "It was a very busy night but there were no known serious assaults in the town centre. There was nothing out of the ordinary and was just a normal Friday night."

Police patrols were also stepped up around the Hare and Hounds in Holcombe Brook where hundreds of people gather each year after making the traditional "pilgrimage"up Holcombe Hill but Anne Rotter, manager of the pub, said the drinkers had an enjoyable day with no problems.

"It was a really lovely day and there were no incidents. There was a police presence but we had no problems and everyone enjoyed themselves."