POLICE have arrested a 14-year-old boy in connection with a reported incident of 'bus surfing' in Leigh.

Officers arrested the teenager in connection with the incident and also on suspicion of several other offences in relation to anti-social behaviour in Leigh town centre.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police issued a warning over the dangers of 'bus surfing', which involved running up behind a bus and holding on.

In a post on the GMP Leigh, Atherton and Hindley Facebook page on Sunday night, neighbourhood inspector Andrew Smith said: "Surfing made a triumphant debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and it seems to have been truly inspirational at a local level.

"Unfortunately Leigh's shortage of tropical beaches and big waves has led to some young people trying to surf buses instead. Whilst there may be fewer sharks, it's clearly extremely dangerous.

"We also wouldn't recommend swapping salty breezes for traffic exhaust fumes."

Inspector Smith said officers were made aware of an incident which saw a boy hanging on to the rear of a bus as it travelled through Leigh.

"Today we arrested a 14-year-old boy in relation to that incident," he said.

"He was also arrested (on suspicion of) numerous other offences linked to recent anti-social behaviour in and around Leigh Town Centre, including criminal damage, racially aggravated public order offences and harassment.

"He has subsequently been released on police bail whilst the investigation continues."

Insp Smith added: "We've received an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour in Leigh Town Centre involving young people during the last few months.

"We've been increasing our patrols as part of Operation Bluefin, the joint operation between Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Council to tackle the issue. We're successfully identifying young people causing problems and taking positive action, ranging from warning letters to parents, home visits by officers, and where criminal offences are being committed, arrests are being made.

"If your children are out and about in the afternoons and evenings please do consider where they are, and whether they're tagging along with others who are committing criminal offences. It's clear from reports we're receiving and CCTV we're viewing that a large number of young people are doing just that.

"Many are putting themselves at risk by climbing on to roofs, entering derelict buildings and, Olympic dreams aside, doing other dangerous activities."