Drunken vandals gathering on Leigh seafront are making the lives of fishermen and yachtsmen a misery, it has been claimed.

A report handed to police by the Leigh foreshore office has detailed rising levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, claiming boats were targeted almost daily by yobs.

Paul Gilson, a fisherman based in Leigh old town, agreed vandalism was on the increase.

He said: "It's always a problem but it seems to be getting worse right the way along the seafront.

"They are throwing bottles at boats as they come in and vandalising them when they are moored up. Mooring ropes have also been untied, which is very dangerous."

Sailing clubs have also been hard hit by the rising tide of bad behaviour, which is almost universally blamed on gangs of youths - numbering more than 100 on occasions - who drink alcohol along the front.

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