A FAMILY facing eviction from their council home left suddenly at the weekend before a court order could be enforced.

Tony and Rosemary McHugh and their sons Stephen, 18, and Martin, 22, of Thompson Street, Leigh, vacated their semi-detached home peacefully -- but left it in "poor condition".

The McHughs had been ordered to leave after a court heard how they had made the lives of their neighbours hell for nine years.

A judge ruled the family had breached their tenancy agreement by creating a situation "which cannot be expected to be tolerated by neighbours".

Council workmen boarded up the home yesterday after breaking into the premises.

"After inspecting the home we found it grotty and unkempt," said a council spokesman. Andrew Donnelly.

"It would be wrong to say the house had been deliberately trashed, but there were signs of long-term neglect."

He said the family had failed to return the keys to the council, but added: "When people leave for the right reasons they are happy to return the keys. But in situations like this they just tend to disappear."