RESIDENTS have told of their relief following the eviction of a "neighbour from hell" they claim threatened to blow up their homes.

Bolton At Home tenants at flats in Booth Road, Little Lever, say they suffered years of misery at the hands of Anthony Ashburn.

He was evicted following a Bolton County Court hearing in which six neighbours gave evidence against him.

Witnesses included, Clare Jackson, aged 32, who has cerebral palsy. She said she suffered bruising to her head after Ashburn, aged 39, threw a frying pan out of his window at her.

Residents had bombarded Bolton At Home with complaints but despite repeated warnings Ashburn's behaviour did not improve.

In court, the residents claimed Ashburn:

  • Threatened to blow up the block of flats.
  • Kept them awake by playing loud music into the early hours.
  • Repeatedly lost his key and resorted to scaling a ladder to get into his flat through an open window and waking them at night.
  • Subjected them to threats and intimidation.

Ms Jackson, whose condition has left her with a speech impediment and difficulty with her balance, said: "It was frightening. You were walking on egg-shells all the time wondering what he was going to do next.

"I don't know why he threw the frying pan at me - maybe because I'd complained about him."

Ms Jackson said the court had been told about Ashburn's problems with alcohol.

"I think most of it was probably caused by his drinking," she added.

"I've been here for 10 years and he was a problem the whole time. But it got worse a couple of years ago when his girlfriend left him.

"One elderly lady moved because of him, she couldn't stand it any longer."

Another neighbour said: "You would hear him playing music, talking to himself and stomping around late at night."

Little Lever and Darcy Lever councillor Sean Hornby said: "I know residents have been terrorised for some time.

"It takes a painstaking amount of time to gather the evidence.

"Their nightmare has now come to an end."

Cllr Noel Spencer, Bolton At Home chairman, said: "We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour of any kind. We are also committed to support residents who have suffered from anti-social behaviour because more witnesses coming forward enable us to tackle offenders more effectively."