TROUBLEMAKERS face being kicked off a housing estate where anti-social behaviour has soared.

Serial nuisances on The Pungle estate in Westhoughton have also been warned they could be served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

"The message is a clear one, anyone who persists with rude, anti-social behaviour or criminal activity will be dealt with by way of eviction, anti-social behaviour orders or the criminal court," said Insp Simon Miskell.

Housing association bosses and councillors will be working closely with the police to help identify those responsible for blighting the lives of law-abiding residents.

They include rowdy neighbours, drugs gangs and tearaway youngsters.

The warning comes two months after after police swooped on homes on The Pungle in September and 10 people subsequently appeared in court charged with conspiracy to supply heroin.

Insp Miskell added: "Over the last few weeks officers have raided a number of addresses where certain individuals have overstepped the mark and we will continue to do so.

"We aim to make the Pungle estate somewhere people can get on with their lives without having to put up with unacceptable behaviour from their neighbours."

Cllr Jim Gilfillan says he is flooded with calls from residents who are fed up with the some of the estate dwellers.

He said: "I have been inundated with complaints from law abiding residents of The Pungle estate for the last twelve months, whose lives are being made a misery by the anti-social behaviour of some residents.

"There is an ongoing problem on this estate, which will benefit from closely co-ordinated approach between the police and Contour Homes."

Housing association Contour Homes will now be notified by police if officers attend a property on a matter which is in breach of tenancy agreements.

A spokesman for the Association said: "We are contacted on a regular basis by residents about their lives being blighted, but they are always frightened to put their names to a complaint.

"This will enable the association to act swiftly. We are keen to send out a message that we will not tolerate the kind of behaviour we have seen to date, and the good tenants we have need to know we are on their side."