Anti-social behaviour at King George V fields, Haydock

Police set up a dispersal zone in the area this weekend until 6pm today in response to incidents around the area of King George V playing fields.

Residents have expressed their frustrations over issues in the area.

These have included fires being started and broken glass and bottles being disposed of.

One resident said to the Star: "It's not the first time that fires have been made. People have said that the police were called out a few times over the weekend.

"I walk my dog over there each morning. The grassed area is full of bottles and broken glass on pathways.

"I worry so much about the dogs paws getting cut and I will be the one that has to pay the vets' bills.

"Lots of families use the pathways to walk their children to school. I would hate for them to fall down on the broken glass."

One serious incident that took place recently was the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in the park area of the Church Road playing fields, opposite Tesco, at around 9pm on Wednesday, August 21.

The victim was taken to hospital where he received treatment for stab wounds to his back and shoulder.

The area covered by the dispersal zone

As the dispersal zone was put in place, a Merseyside Police spokesman said on Friday: "Officers with reasonable grounds to suspect a person is involved or likely to become involved in anti-social behaviour can direct that person to leave and not return to the area for up to 48 hours.

"Failure to comply can result in arrest."