NUISANCE neighbours in an isolated north Durham village are making life a misery for residents.

People in the former mining village of Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, say their once-quiet streets have been turned into a battleground for anti-social teenagers and their families.

Concerned residents say the village has become a dumping ground for "undesirables" from neighbouring towns and council estates.

Resentment has reached such a point with some residents, that the village has been awash with rumours of possible vigilante groups "dealing" with troublesome households.

Rob Stephens, a 61-year-old retired industrial glazier and member of Grange Villa Action Group, who has lived in the village for 11 years, said the quality of life there has plummeted.

He said: "Some parts of the village are like Beirut - the place is really going downhill.

"It's getting so bad that I know of people seriously considering vigilante-style action and forcing some of these people out.

"As far as I can see, the Villa is getting to be a real dumping ground for drug addicts. The powers that be seem to pick on this village.

"When I moved here in 1990 it was a beautiful village - people used to leave their doors open when they went to the shops - but the last five years have been terrible.

"To be fair, we've got our own troublesome families, but we know how to handle them."

Mr Stephens achieved local fame last year when he tackled a 14-year-old car thief who raced round the narrow streets crashing into parked cars.

Despite being laid up on crutches, he grabbed the youth and frog-marched him home.

Chester-le-Street District Councillor Ray McDermott, who represents the ward, said local troubles are symptomatic of a wider problem.

"We do get problem families from time to time - a house was raided by police in the village just last week - but it's probably no worse than other ex-mining villages in this part of the world.

"Some people in the village are making an effort though. Grange Villa Action Group is trying to stem the tide, but not that many people are interested.