A WOMAN caught in possession of heroin after a covert CCTV operation by council housing chiefs is to be evicted.

Donna Waterworth will have to leave her council house in Tudor Avenue, Farnworth, in 28 days time.

The order came at a County Court hearing which was told professional witnesses had watched Waterworth's home for two weeks last year to gather evidence.

The court was also told neighbours were too afraid to come forward to give evidence against the 37-year-old.

Waterworth was not at the hearing, but Judge Joanne Shaw granted the repossession order made by the Bolton at Home's Anti Social Behaviour Team and said that eviction was the only course of action to take.

The County Court, which sat at Bolton Crown Court, heard that Waterworth was taken to court after allegations from neighbours about drug dealing.

During a two week survelliance period last December, there were 706 visitors recorded going to her house during the daytime.

Warren Bradley, who represented the council, told the court that Waterworth was causing a "nuisance and annoyance to neighbours," but they were scared to testify against her because of fears of reprisals.

A professional witness known as Witness A, provided written evidence to Judge Shaw about anti social behaviour committed by Waterworth.

The eviction was the third successful victory this year in the county court over repossession where the tenancy agreement has been breached.

A spokesman for Bolton Council, which brought the eviction proceedings to the court, said: "Our customers will be delighted that the court has once again found in our favour. We want to assure them that we will not hesitate to use this course of action wherever we think it is necessary in the interests of our tenants and customers.

"It sends out a strong message that we mean what we say and we are actively looking at taking legal action to pursue other cases. Bolton at Home will not tolerate behaviour which breaches the tenancy agreement. If perpetrators are not prepared to address their behaviour then we are prepared to take whatever measures are necessary."

Waterworth was ordered to pay £240 costs.