NEIGHBOURS from hell could soon find themselves evicted by private landlords if a North-East authority has its way.

Middlesbrough Borough Council already evicts council house tenants for anti social behaviour, including drug dealing. Now it is urging private landlords to do the same.

The council aims to block the "revolving door'' technique, stopping tenants evicted by the council or a private landlord for harassment or anti-social behaviour, being housed by a different landlord.

More than 30 landlords have attended a seminar aimed at tackling the problems of anti- social behaviour. Their response has delighted council leader Ken Walker, who said: "The way forward is a joint approach to this issue, based on all landlords adopting common standards and policies on problem tenants.

"We have no tolerance of nuisance tenants and we have made it clear that we will use all our powers to ensure that the small minority of wreckers don't spoil things for good, law- abiding tenants.

"For our efforts to have the desired impact, we need the cooperation of other landlords, particularly in the private rented sector. They need to know who the problem tenants are and also the increased powers which the Government is making available to deal with them.''

Coun Walker has threatened to "name and shame'' unscrupulous landlords.

He said: "Private landlords have a stake in the town. I am sure they want to create a good environment in which their own tenants can live and we will certainly help them achieve this.''

Landlords can find out more about the tenant management scheme by contacting the housing advice service on (01642) 264531 or 263943.