RESIDENTS are hoping their "neighbours from hell" will finally be silenced after a court ordered a couple to stop their campaign of hate.

Tony and Linda Gilkes, aged 64 and 50, were ordered to cease harassing their neighbours on the Thorntree estate, in Middlesbrough, or face going to prison.

At Teesside County Court yesterday, the couple agreed to abide by an order preventing them from constantly making unnecessary complaints about people living close by, and from directing their CCTV cameras onto neighbours' homes and gardens.

The injunction follows a 120-name petition by residents on the estate, which demanded landlords Erimus Housing take action against the pair.

They claimed their lives had been made hell by Mr and Mrs Gilkes, who are alleged to have constantly spied on them, spread lies and even called one a prostitute.

The court heard that the couple had made scores of calls to police and senior managers and directors at Erimus Housing to make unwarranted complaints against residents, including the way people had parked their cars.

After the hearing yesterday, residents said they were disappointed Mr and Mrs Gilkes had not been evicted from their home in Church Walk, Birkhall Road.

Salina Leach, who lives next door to the couple, said she launched the petition after months of harassment.

"People wanted them out," she said.

"I can't go out of my doors without being on a CCTV camera. I have lived there for 18 months and it has been hell.

"I have repeatedly asked Erimus Housing to move us, but they won't."

Mother-of-four Amanda Stevenson said she was evicted from the house next door to the couple after they made complaints against her and her family, which she claimed were unwarranted.

"What is an injunction going to change," she said.

"I was asked to move out because of what the Gilkes' said. They even called me a prostitute. It got to the point where I didn't want to go home with the children.

"I'm furious with Erimus because they left me high and dry."

But a spokeswoman for Erimus has said previously: "We do not intend to evict Mr and Mrs Gilkes.

"We just seek to modify their behaviour to behaviour that is acceptable to Erimus Housing, to neighbours and to the wider community."

Mr and Mrs Gilkes said nothing during the hearing yesterday and The Northern Echo was unable to contact them last night.

However, they have previously told The Northern Echo: "We have no idea what we have done wrong.

"Presumably, it must be that we are complaining too often about neighbours. Our complaints have not been malicious - they have been genuine."