'TERRIBLE twins' who made their neighbours lives a misery have been given anti-social behaviour orders.

District judge Peter Ward made young tearaways Ashleigh and Katie Lynch subject to the sanctions despite claims that an autistic condition meant they were destined to break its terms.

Neighbours of the twins are celebrating after Judge Ward imposed curbs on the identical twins following a rash of bad behaviour, mainly while they were drunk.

Residents were said to have been threatened, abused and ridiculed by the girls, now aged 20, over a series of months, leading to an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) application by Lancashire police.

Lawyers representing the pair said that the twins suffered from Asperger's Syndrome - which meant they would have difficulties in understanding and complying properly with the ASBO.

But medical experts could not agree whether their condition would hamper their ability to comply with three conditions.

Judge Ward ruled that, while he accepted that the girls had problems, the order was necessary to protect people in the area.

He said: "These two girls have significant problems affecting their behaviour but they are made worse by the consumption of alcohol.

"I think that in a lot of these incidents which have been referred to, alcohol features most of the time."

The judge said that he was not "setting them up to fail". He said any breaches of the order would be dealt with by the courts but that magistrates could impose community sentences designed to help, rather than punish, the girls.

After the case though the twins' mother Sheila Lynch said: "I think that this is all a sham.

"I think that this is a case where the perpetrators have become the victims.

"It is purely the help and support that I have given them that has ensured that they have not breached this order."

But Luke McGrath, representing Lancashire police, said that had been the only breach since the interim order was imposed nine months ago.

The twins formerly lived in Fairfield Avenue, Edgeside, Waterfoot but were required to live at various addresses in Bacup and Burnley during the proceedings.

Police expert Dr Robin Logie, who interviewed the twins, said he felt they were capable of understanding the order's requirements.

The order's conditions are not using threatening behaviour to people living in Waterfoot, Rossendale, not being drunk in a public place and not drinking, or having an open alcohol container in public.

However Dr Hildegard Schakel, a consultant psychiatrist representing the twins, said their condition meant they could understand the ASBO conditions but they had difficulties comprehending the impact of breaking them.

She said they were liable to act impusively, without any thoughts about the consequences of their actions.

Simon Harrison, the twins' lawyer, said that since they had been diagnosed with Asperger's they had received levels of support previously denied to them and were making good progress.

After the case, former neighbour Dawn Kenyon, 32, whose family was terrorised by the twins, said: "This is fantastic.

"There will be a sense of relief in Edgeside because now people will know that this order is in place and they can get help.

Police Constable Mick Jones, community beat manager for Edgeside, said: "We are committed to working together with local residents and Greenvale housing to reducing anti-social behaviour in the area and this will help us to achieve that."

Ashleigh and Katie both now work for Etiquette Formal Hire, Waterfoot, and are each undertaking information technology qualifications at Rossendale and Accrington College.

Ashleigh said: "We are starting to sort ourselves out.

"This has all been a neighbourhood dispute that has gotten ridiculous."

Katie added: "We have joined all these self-help groups to try and get assistance, like (youth alcohol advice service) Early Break."