RESIDENTS in North Turton claim they have been abandoned by police during on-going youth problems in their neighbourhood.

Parish councillors and villagers wanted answers at a meeting with Darwen Police Inspector Graham Ashcroft this week.

Last month, the chairman of the parish council, David Smith, expressed deep concern, on behalf of many residents, that the rural beat officers for the area were constantly being removed from their village duties to deal with other matters in Darwen.

He and other residents believed that as a result, there had been numerous incidents of vandalism, disgraceful behaviour at pub closing times, car crime and burglary.

Parish council clerk Geoff Hughes was asked to write a letter explaining the situation to police, which led to Inspector Ashcroft attending the meeting, along with community beat officers PC Jim Wood and PC Phil Stephenson.

Mr Hughes said: "I feel it was a positive and constructive meeting because we all got to put our points across and it was decided to arrange a further meeting which will be attended by the parish council, the police, youth services and local youth organisations. Inspector Ashcroft outlined the problems he has, which includes prioritising which areas which need policing more thoroughly. Quite a lot of what he said we went along with because we understand it is a difficult situation and they are understaffed.

"But what the parish council couldn't understand was that the North Turton area should have three beat police officers and yet I live 80 metres from the police station in Edgworth and, until this week, hadn't seen a police officer.

"One is permanently situated in Darwen, another has been in Darwen almost continuously for past three months and the third is injured and off work at the moment. We pointed out that we are often left without any policing whatsoever.

"Apparently Greater Manchester Police have stepped up their policing so kids are coming from their areas in to North Turton because they know there are no police about here."

The parish council handed over a list of all the incidents which had been occurring in the area during the past month to the police.

Sergeant Anne Scott, of Darwen Police, said: "We are looking to address these issues. I am going up to the Barlow Institute on Friday morning to meet with the two local beat officers, Coun Jean Rigby and someone from the council regeneration team.

"At times we are down on staff but no more than other areas. We do our best to supply an adequate service up there."

Mr Hughes said trouble during the last month included youths dashing inside the Barlow Institute in Edgworth during private meetings, riding bikes round the cricket pavilion and bowling green, trying to light a fire underneath the glass-roofed veranda and putting a wooden bench into the centre of Bolton Road to obstruct traffic.

"Fireworks have been thrown at cars and gangs of up to 80 have been gathering."