A JOINT bid by police and residents to tackle juvenile nuisance in Edgworth has been described as an overwhelming success.

Measures put in place to tackle unruly behaviour included the parish council keeping a diary of incidents and extra police monitoring the area. It is thought a combination of the two has led to the young troublemakers moving out of the village.

Rowdy behaviour and vandalism had become a major problem towards the end of last year, with bottles being thrown, woodland set on fire and damage to the bowling green, cricket pavilion and village hall.

Parish clerk Geoff Hughes said: "We logged every incident and each month posted the results on the notice board. Extra police were drafted in, particularly at weekends, and we are pleased to say the trouble died a death."

Sgt Anne Scott, of Darwen Police, said the diary had been very useful for the police and felt it showed what could be done when people worked together.

She said: "We took a multi-agency approach to the problems, working with the local councillor and the council's neighbourhood regeneration officer, Elaine Gillibrand. We looked at who the young people were and it transpired that quite a lot were from Bolton.

"We suggested a review of youth facilities and some money was spent on modifications to the Barlow Institute including a timer light at the back of the building which stops these large dark areas where youths can go drinking.

"We also had some benches moved to dissuade youngsters from gathering in that area.