ATHERTON'S crime-conscious traders are out to beat shoplifters.

Last week 25 people from the town's business sector met to set-up Atherton Shopwatch.

Cllr Sue Loudon explained:"Shopkeepers who attend the next meeting will be given a rogues gallery booklet identifying convicted shoplifters.

"Scheme members will then keep a look-out and inform fellow traders if they see anyobody acting suspiciously.

"At Leigh, traders have a radio link with each other - this is a future possibility at Atherton."

The next meeting is at 5.30pm on October 20 at The Wheatsheaf, Market Street, Atherton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.