RESIDENTS today told of their relief after 'neighbours from hell' were evicted from a house in Weymouth.

People living in the Westham area claimed their community became a 'war zone' of foul language, violence and filth after a tenant allowed rough sleepers to live in her property.

Magna Housing Association changed the locks at the property in Sherlock Court after the county court granted a possession order last Thursday when the female tenant breached an injunction to protect her neighbours from anti-social behaviour.

She collected her belongings before handing over the keys to the house.

Magna today said it is unusual for the association to take tenants to court but insisted action would be taken against residents who subject their neighbours to anti-social behaviour.

Complaints in Sherlock Court included excrement being thrown, people performing sex acts in the gardens and groups of homeless people descending on the property.

Motor engineer Lester Dale, who lives next door with his wife and three children, said: "It's been nothing but hell, like a war zone.

"We've had broken glass, paint thrown over the wall and no sleep for a long time.

"People have been jumping out the windows and threatened to burn down our shed and fence."

Kevin Charnock, who lives with his wife and teenage daughter, added: "They were the worst neighbours I have ever had.

"We were asked to keep a log of all the problems.

"It's not nice for your kids to see all the swearing and violence in the street."

Residents also told how they joined forces to take action to halt the trouble - and vowed that they would not put up with it again.

Jane Davis said: "They threatened to kill my dog and played loud music until 4am. There was appalling abuse and foul language.

"It's been a communal effort to get her out. We want to send out a message to anyone that we as a community are not prepared to put up with anybody acting like this again."

Magna area housing manager Stuart Martindale said he took court action after the tenant breached an acceptable behaviour contract.

He said: "Magna takes any form of anti-social behaviour very seriously.

"We have to do all we can to protectour residents and the communities where they live from any behaviour that is unacceptable.

"If the person causing the nuisance is one of our tenants and there is a breach of their tenancy agreement, we will usually visit them to discuss the problem first and attempt to resolve it by way of agreement or mediation.

"However, if the behaviour persists, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure that the matter is resolved.

"We would like to thank our tenants for their patience and support. Without them we could not have brought this case to court.

"I'm very pleased that it has reached a satisfactory conclusion."

A Magna spokesman said tenants who were evicted from social housing could then be given temporary accommodation by the local authority.