Glass bottle booby traps

Green space off Bamford Street, Royton which was littered with broken glass.

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EVERY step could pose a risk ­- that's the message from police after a gang were spotted hiding upturned broken glass bottles in grassy areas of Royton.

A member of the public spotted the youths placing the jagged glass into the ground around Bamford Street and Shaw Street. PC Paul Rainsford, neighbourhood officer for Royton, said although they suspected it was an isolated incident, he wanted residents to be aware. He is also urging anyone who witnesses anything suspicious to report it.

He said: "We were contacted by a local resident who had seen the group of youths upturning a small number of bottles. We want to make people aware, we don't want any dog walkers or children getting hurt. We don't know who it is. It is not something we have discovered as a regular problem so it is probably isolated but people need to know.

"It is about making the residents aware and to keep a look out for anything suspicious. Nobody that we are aware of has been injured.

"We want people to stay vigilant while using the grassy areas and report any suspicious activity to police."

GMP also alerted residents via their Royton and Shaw Facebook page and the news was met with widespread condemnation on social media with locals highlighting the dangers the bottles could have on children and dog walkers with many saying the behaviour of youths is getting worse.

Kathryn Evans commented: "No morals. No values. No discipline. No self respect. It's time actions had consequences."

Deborah Monk blamed the actions on a lack of discipline.

She said: "Kids these days are not allowed to be disciplined and that is why they have turned out how they are now.

"The Government have a lot to answer for. I have always taught my children right from wrong ­- they wouldn't even think of doing that sort of thing, thankfully."

However, Ronnie Lee Garrod, who had suffered an accident with broken glass as a child, argued that it wasn't a decline in general youth behaviour, but now because of social media it is far more open for the public to see.

He said: "I nearly died when I was a kid from falling on a bottle neck in the grass like that, not far from the Dog Inn pub in Chadderton. The kids were just as bad then but we get to see it more these days thanks to social media."

Emma Marie Whitty added: "What is wrong with these people? Children play on there and people walk their dogs. Absolute morons."

Anyone who spots anything suspicious or has any information should contact police on 101.