Alleys are often used to dump rubbish and commit crime

Manchester City Council is trying to shut several alleyways in the city because they are dangerous and dirty.

People whose houses back on to the alleys in Moss Side say they are fed up with burglars using them to break in to homes and with people dumping rubbish.

The Ramblers' Association (RA) said the idea was a "superficial" attempt to reduce crime.

Alley networks in parts of east Manchester have already been closed off with residents given keys to access gates.

The crime rate in these areas has reportedly reduced.

On Friday, Derek Rogers of Moss Side Residents' Association said alleys in his area had been abandoned and were not used by local people.

"In the evenings when it's dark, the alleys are dangerous.

'Address the roots'

"Most housebreaking is done from the rear of the premises, the alley is a theatre for burglars, who climb over the walls to get in to houses.

"If the alleys were closed off then they wouldn't be able to do that."

Mr Rogers also said there were many instances when people drove to an alley to dump rubbish.

However, the RA's Nick Barrett said the measure was the "most superficial solution" to dealing with the problems.

He said: "It would be better if the council invested in better-lit roads, with better policing of areas, rather than this.

"Footpaths themselves don't commit crime, people commit crime. Lets instead address the roots of their behaviour."

The city council's website encourages residents concerned about alleys to inquire about them being gated.