A SINGLE mother is fuming after she was labelled the neighbour from hell and banned from accepting night-time visitors.

Helen Lawrence could be arrested if anyone other than her parents calls at her home, on South Street, South Pelaw, County Durham, between 9pm and 8am.

Durham County Council and Durham Police obtained a court injunction against the 27-year-old, saying it would put a stop to her partying lifestyle which was causing misery for her neighbours.

But Ms Lawrence, mother to nine-year-old Kyran-Lee, said: "It's just not fair. I've been victimised. I'm not to blame for everything that goes on. I don't get any protection."

The order also bans Ms Lawrence from having more than two visitors at a time during the day and from playing loud music.

The council and police said they took action after receiving dozens of complaints over two years, covering loud music and cars revving late at night, drinking, shouting, fighting, urinating in the street and swearing at and threatening other residents.

Oliver Sherratt, from the Safe Durham Partnership, said: "This is an excellent result, which we hope will bring some much needed peace for residents who have had to endure loud noise and unacceptable behaviour for far too long.

"We now hope she will think about her actions and put an end to her anti-social behaviour."

Ms Lawrence said she took full responsibility for the noisy music, but trouble began when she was playing carols loudly while hanging a decorative Santa Claus from her roof last Christmas.

She was powerless to stop gangs using her home and garden and they had smashed her windows, thrown eggs at her house, abused her son's trampoline and stolen property worth £1,500, including Kyran-Lee's Sony Playstation 3, she said.

Several neighbours also leapt to Ms Lawrence's defence.

Ashleigh Kelly, 25, who lives next door, said: "She's a really nice girl."

Mr Sherratt said the authorities had tried to work with Ms Lawrence but she had repeatedly refused to engage and pursuing an injunction was the only option left.

The order was issued at Durham Family Court on Thursday and will run until April. Ms Lawrence was also ordered to pay £150 court costs.