NEIGHBOURS-from-hell face being kicked out of their homes and into closely supervised "sin bins" to stop them blighting their communities.

Southampton is one of more than 50 cities and towns across the country running Family Intervention Projects in a last-ditch attempt to challenge the root causes of bad behaviour.

Under the projects, details of which were published by the Government today, outreach workers are sent to get a grip on troublesome families with a burst of intensive support and regular home visits.

These can include trying to instil family routines at bedtime, sending mums and dads on parenting courses and helping them access benefits and health services.

In the most serious cases a family which shows no sign of improvement can be moved to a "managed property" in another part of town to get them away from their neighbours and, with the help of one-to-one support, try to get them back on track.

Southampton City Council has been given £148,000 by the Government towards its Family Intervention Project for 2007/8, it was announced yesterday.

The project can call on the use of up to two council homes for resettling families at any one time. So far only one has been used, for a single family since last November.

Steve Smith, the council's neighbourhood housing manager, said: "If it is felt a family needs to be moved to give them a fresh start we will move them.

"Moving a family can help them and give some respite to other people in the neighbourhood."

John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, welcomed the city's involvement in the scheme.

He said: "In some communities there are a small number of highly problematic families that account for a disproportionate amount of anti-social behaviour.

"Despite often years of intervention, they continue to damage themselves, their children and equally importantly the community around them."

It can cost about £8,000 to help a single family, either in their own home or by moving them.

But the Government estimates the cost to the taxpayer of doing nothing - and picking up the tab for social, children's and housing services, policing, court and criminal justice services - ranges from between £250,000 and £350,000 per family per year.

Problem families can be given anti-social behaviour orders or evicted from their homes under current legislation but it is hoped the new projects will stop problems escalating that far.

A total of 53 projects have been launched nationally under the two-year £15m scheme. They are expected to "troubleshoot" 1,500 families a year across England.

Louise Casey, co-ordinator of the Government's Respect programme, said: "These projects grip families and use enforcement action and intensive help, and are proven to turn families around."

Clare Tickell, from children's charity NCH, said: "It makes sense that if you help the families, you'll help the community.

"Getting to the root of the problem can change behaviour forever - not only giving children in these families better health, education and well being but improving the lives of the whole community."

Other places in the south east receiving Government funding for Family Intervention Projects include Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove.