THE days of good neighbours are certainly not long gone. But the days of bad neighbours in the '90s are now much more likely to end in court.

For thanks to a sensible decision by Bury County Court the Westhoughton family forced out by the noise from the house next door a will now be allowed to return home.

The barrage of loud music at all hours of the day and night, screaming, foul language and banging doors drove the Prest family to distraction. Finally, after seven months, it also drove them into rented accommodation in their search for a quiet life. By then, the Prest children had been so traumatised that their schoolwork suffered.

Now, Bolton Council has been granted power to re-possess the council house in Hollin Acre, Westhoughton. The tenant and her two young children must be out by October 4 and she will be given temporary accommodation until she finds somewhere else to live.

The Court's decision gives out all the right messages. It tells noisy neighbours that selfish, anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. And it shows the Prests and all the other neighbours affected that it is worth complaining; that something positive can be done to alleviate this nuisance in the community.

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