CONCERNS have been raised about youngsters throwing objects at traffic in Leigh.

Leigh town councillor Paul Lawrence raised the matter at a public meeting on Monday, saying traders in the Rectory Grove area had complained to him about groups of youths wetting newspaper and throwing it at passing cars.

He said: “There was nearly an accident when they chucked some paper on a car. The guy stopped violently and he had children in the back.

“The youths ran off down the alleyway. He was very upset.”

One RectoryGrove trader, who did not wish to be named, said they had witnessed similar incidents for several weeks, with about half a dozen youths involved between about 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

He said: “There has been a group of them running out of the side-alleys, throwing wet paper at cars. You could hear it thudding against the cars and it was getting to the point where I was concerned there might be a pretty nasty accident. One driver did actually try to run after them at one point.

“A resident who lives behind my shop has also had one of their wing mirrors broken off and some bottles from a restaurant bin have been smashed down there.”

Insp Brad Dickle, of Leigh police, promised police would do something about the misbehaving teenagers.

He said: “We’ve had sporadic calls over the past few weeks about teenagers throwing wet paper at cars.

“We will also be offering teenagers something more constructive to do, so if anyone knows who they are, contact us and we will work with them through the school liaison team.”