Independent councillors Gary Wilkes, Brian Merry and Don Hodgkinson have braved cold winter nights to organise a raft of events over the last few years to ensure youngsters in the area have plenty to occupy their time.

They have funded visits by Latics for football in the community, organised basketball, tennis and tag rugby events all in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Now they have been nominated for a Wigan Borough Sports Award by the borough's leisure and culture trust for all their hard work.

Coun Wilkes said: "We're not doing it for the fun but because there is a serious issue that there isn't enough for the kids to do on a winter night or in the summer holidays.
"We've been told by police that on the nights we've held activities, anti-social behaviour is down so, they are really supportive of what we are doing.

"There's a real lack of infrastructure in Wigan. Our main aim is one day to have a community centre for Bryn and Ashton, where the kids can go and run it themselves."
The eighth Wigan Borough Sports Awards, organised by the trust's Sports Development Unit, will be held on Friday January 25 at the JJB Stadium.

This prestigious event rewards the sporting community for their dedication over the year and also highlights the hotbed of talent from all over the borough. The six awards are: Coach of the Year; Club of the Year; Volunteer of the Year; Sports Achiever of the Year; Disabled Sport Achiever; the Wilf Brogan Unsung Hero in Sport Award; and the new Get Active, Get Volunteering Award.