A TOWN is using new legal powers to declare war on trouble-makers.

As forecast in The Northern Echo, Middlesbrough Borough Council is to turn the tables on people who make their neighbours' lives a misery.

The council has announced it will use anti social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to ban pests from named locations, prevent them from harassing people and even subject them to a curfew.

Middlesbrough's cabinet meeting yesterday authorised the heads of its housing and public protection and planning services to make applications for the orders. The orders, which can only be made through the courts, stay in force for a minimum of two years.

Council leader Ken Walker said: "Our message to the trouble-makers is quite clear. There will only be one winner in this contest. It won't be you."

Earlier this year, the council supported the police in successfully applying for an order against a persistent kerb crawler.

Yesterday, the council agreed to seek orders against people causing disturbances in neighbourhoods across the town.

Coun Walker said: "The Government and law-abiding residents of Middlesbrough expect us to use every power at our disposal to curb the activities of trouble-makers, who can make the lives of fellow residents a misery."

He said: "We have already successfully applied for an ASBO on a kerb crawler. We now plan to use them against trouble-makers, who we can't proceed against under the terms of our tenancy agreements.

"These actions will give a very clear message to residents that we are determined to find, quick, practical and effective solutions to the problem of neighbourhood nuisance. We are on their side. It will send an equally strong message to the wreckers, that we are very much on their case."

Middlesborough council can evict its own troublesome tenants under tenancy agreements. But, until yesterday, it had no powers for dealing with people living in private rented accommodation.

A spokesman said: "There are a range of cases, no more than half a dozen, which we may be looking at in the near future and putting information before the courts, asking them to place orders."