A FAMILY who blighted the lives of their neighbours by staging loud parties revving motorbikes throughout the night and burning tyres in the garden have been evicted from their Southampton home.

Fed up residents spoke of their relief at the news that after months of anti-social behaviour the family had finally been thrown out.

In a joint bid to Southampton Magistrates Court Hampshire police and Southampton City Council successfully won a Closure Order after presenting a catalogue of complaints from residents living on Orwell Close in Redbridge.

Officers immediately visited the property and put up signs explaining the action that had been taken.

The news was roundly welcomed by residents who said the family had made them feel unsafe in their own homes.

People who lived near the house said the evicted residents would play loud music in the early hours of the morning, particularly the song “House Every Weekend” by David Zowie, which would be played repeatedly.

The Closure Order means it is a criminal offence to enter the property for three months without authorisation from police.

One neighbour who asked not to be identified said: “It is a massive relief now they are gone, they were really noisy with parties and motorbikes and starting up motorbikes inside their house.

“They would play music until 4am and once they were burning tyres in their garden and the smell was awful, they were pouring petrol on the tyres and the smoke was choking me.

“They would also block people’s cars in - one day I wanted to go to work and it was after one of their parties, but they parked so close I couldn’t get out and when I asked them to move the car the woman started to shout at me.

“I didn’t feel safe in my own home because someone was always in their garden and lots of strangers were always coming in and out.

“It got so bad we had thought about moving out if they stayed.”

The evicted residents moved into the property around March last year and neighbours described crowds of people coming in and out of the house, sometimes 30 at a time.

They also said motorbikes would frequently be heard revving their engines waking people up, or riding up and down the road.

Another neighbour said: “I had to call an ambulance for my father once and their cars were blocking the road so the ambulance had to park down the road and the paramedics walked up.”

Another added: “Now they are gone we have got our lives back, my wife has been off sick because of the stress caused by them.

“Every bank holiday, they’d play music so loud the radiators would rattle on the walls, we have a display case that has moved away from the wall because the music shook it.

“They threw stones at us, they said they would beat people up and you just could not talk to them.

“And on fireworks night they came out in the middle of the cars to let fireworks off.”

PC Sarah Miller from Redbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This closure order has been a result of successful joint working between local officers and Southampton City Council.

“The occupants of this address had severely affected the quality of life of those living within close proximity. Our aim is to prevent this from happening, safeguard communities from stress, intimidation and harm and to protect vulnerable people.”

PC Chris Collins, also from Redbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “We would not have been able to take action were it not for the brave members of the community who spoke up about what was happening.

“We would like to thank the community for their support whilst they have carried out this work.”

Councillor for Redbridge ward, Andrew Pope said: “I would like to say well done to the police, I have been working with them for years to try and track down where these nuisance bikes are from.

“There have been problem bikes in the Mansel Park area and I am delighted the police are taking this action.

“This is a step in the right direction by taking action against those who spoil it for all the people that live in the area.”

Anyone with information about drug-related activity or anti-social behaviour has been asked to contact their Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.