TWO more "neighbours from hell" have been evicted from their homes in Christchurch as Twynham Housing Association continues its purge on unpleasant tenants.

Following a sustained cam-paign of antisocial behaviour, including assaulting neigh-bours and damaging property, 26-year-old Michael Potter was evicted from his ground-floor flat in Somerford.

Bournemouth County Court had already issued an antisocial behaviour injunction barring him from causing further harassment to neighbours at the Malvern Court flats in Dorset Road where he had lived for several years.

A week earlier, Christopher Heyward, 59, was evicted from the flat in nearby Edward Road where he had lived for 10 years. Disabled Mr Heyward, who recently suffered a fire at his flat, was accused of harassing the young family who lived in the flat above and have since been rehoused.

But other neighbours who spoke to the Echo denied Mr Heyward was a nuisance and felt he had been harshly treated.

A statement from the housing association said both cases involved single men and no children or other dependants were affected by the evictions and repossession of the flats.

Twynham resident services leader Winston Nelson said: "These men made their neighbours' life a misery with unacceptable behaviour over many months.

"Our residents enjoy a good community spirit in Somerford, which is undermined by the poor behaviour of a handful. Hopefully, they now realise where this will lead unless they show more consideration for neighbouring families and individuals."

Twynham, which looks after some 3,000 rented homes in Christchurch and surrounding areas, announced its "get tough" stance against nuisance neighbours earlier this year.

In March a single mother was moved out of her flat in the town after a two-year catalogue of complaints from more than a dozen neighbours about antisocial behaviour, noise and general nuisance.

And in August another nuisance neighbour was evicted from his flat in Purewell after tenants on the Dairy Close became so fed up with late- night parties, abuse and intimidation that they provided evidence to help Twynham take him to court.

The housing association's media officer, Steve Murphy, said court action was used as a last resort if tenants failed to heed verbal and written warnings and eviction would make it difficult for them to find another home with a social landlord.

First published: October 24