HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope today demanded council chiefs start using their powers under civil law to crack down on nuisance neighbours who are terrorising people in the borough.

Frightened residents have pleaded with Mr Pope to help tackle anti-social behaviour including intimidation of the elderly, threatening behaviour, vandalism, petty crime and late-night noise.

The Labour MP wants action from Hyndburn Council after what he describes as "a summer of discontent" in large parts of his constituency.

He said he had received complaints about nuisance neighbours from three areas of Accrington - Central, Woodnook and Spring Hill - as well as several from Huncoat.

Tomorrow the Lancashire Evening Telegraph will reveal how residents feel trapped in a spiral of decline as yobs and vandals turn their once-proud neighbourhoods into troublespots.

They say that if they try to stop nuisance behaviour they are targeted by troublemakers - but they cannot afford to move house because vandals and yobs have helped send house prices crashing. In April, Home Secretary Jack Straw gave local councils the power to slap anti-social behaviour orders on nuisance neighbours.

Hyndburn Council has not yet used the extra powers, which allow civil court procedures and professional witnesses to be used against people who persist in unruly behaviour. People who breach the orders can be sent to jail.

Mr Pope said: "I am appalled by the behaviour of these thugs who are making life a misery for decent people.

"Here we have law-abiding, tax-paying citizens whose lives are being ruined by a selfish minority.

"My constituents think enough is enough, and I agree with them.

"It's time we had zero-tolerance of anti-social behaviour.

"The Government has played its part by changing the law.

"Last week Liverpool became the first place in the country to use these civil laws against juveniles.

"I want Hyndburn to follow suit and I will be pressing both the police and Hyndburn Council to use the new powers that the government has given them."

A Hyndburn Council spokesman said: "Anti-social behaviour orders (ABSOs) were only brought in this April and Hyndburn Council has not introduced any so far.

"ABSOs are not a quick-fix measure, as they require councils to gather hard evidence against an individual's behaviour, which often takes weeks or months.

"However, given the record falls in crime in the borough in recent years, the council will not drag its feet in using them to protect the people of Hyndburn from the small number of anti-social thugs who make life miserable for everyone else."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.