A POLICE chief told Ramsbottom residents that their expectations of local bobbies were "too high".

The deputy commander of Bury's police division was speaking during a heated public meeting.

But his reassuring comments were dismissed by a critic at the meeting at St Andrew's Primary School in Nuttall Lane.

Superintendent Steve Westcott said the recent spate of armed robberies on banks and petrol stations did not alter his opinion that Ramsbottom was a "haven of peaceful tranquillity" compared with other areas in the borough and across Greater Manchester.

He said: "The public expectations in this area are unrealistically high in terms of what you expect of your police officers.

"In terms of the overall problems facing police in this division, Ramsbottom is relatively a haven of peaceful tranquillity. I have limited resources and I will deploy those resources where they are needed."

His comments followed demands for police action against the growing tide of crime sweeping the north of the borough, and to resolve the increasing tensions created by gangs of youths.

One angry critic, who did not want to be named, accused the police of ignoring Ramsbottom and leaving it to the mercy of criminals.

He said: "Comments about Ramsbottom being a haven of tranquillity and not being policed properly is providing an open invitation to criminals to hit us hard. We want bobbies on the beat."

Supt Westcott urged those present at the meeting to lobby their MPs to get greater funding.