A RACIST family who tormented their neighbours for months are being evicted from their council home.

In one of the first actions of its kind under a new get-tough policy by Bolton Council's housing department, officers obtained an eviction order against the Tonge Moor family last week due to "repeated racial harassment".

Housing vice-chairman Cllr Noel Spencer said: "This type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Everyone has the right to live in their own home in peace, without fear of attack or abuse from neighbours."

Cllr Spencer praised the brave victims and other witnesses who gave evidence to the housing department and the court.

And he urged other victims of racial harassment or other anti-social behaviour to come forward.

He said: "Without the support of victims and witnesses we would not have won this case.

"If we are to stamp out this problem we need to work together."

This eviction is further evidence of the council's toughening stance on problem tenants.

As reported in the BEN, the local authority introduced a new "anti-social behaviour clause" into tenancy agreements this summer.

And a landmark case came to court in July where a drug dealer was evicted from a council flat after causing two years of misery for neighbours.

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