COUNCIL lawyers have banned a man from entering a residential street and any houses in it after neighbours complained about his repeated visits to the area.

Michael Graham, a man in his 20s and formerly of Nuttall Street, Ramsbottom, is forbidden from being in George Road, Ramsbottom, or in any of the homes following repeated visits to the road.

Bury Metro took out the injunction after residents complained that he was repeatedly visiting a house, allegedly causing damage and abusing a resident.

Now the council has written to all residents of the semi-detached houses, some of which are council properties and some are in private ownership, to inform them that police now have power of arrest if Mr Graham sets foot on George Road.

A spokesman for Bury Metro said: "This is something we have not tried before and is in direct response to the feedback we have had from the residents living in the area.

"We have written to all the residents so that they can see that the council has acted on the information we have received and we can now take action.

"We want the people living there to know we have taken the situation seriously and we will be monitoring what happens. If this is successful we may use it again."

A resident of George Road said: "It has been a long-standing problem and it has been before the council and the police.

"I think the council is to be commended on the action it has taken. Residents will be pleased that the police can now take action.

"This is a quiet area and a lot of people have bought properties here.

"The house next door to the one where there has been problems is privately owned and if this is still going on it could be hard if they ever tried to sell their home."

The letter to residents states: "Under the terms of the injunction it is ordered that Michael Graham shall not enter George Road, Ramsbottom, or any of the properties thereon.

"Michael Graham is also forbidden to engage in or threaten to engage in conduct likely to cause a nuisance or annoyance to residents in the locality, or encourage or permit anyone to do so on his behalf."

The letter also outlines that the police have the power to arrest Mr Graham is he enters George Road in accordance with section 155 of the Housing Act and the police should be informed immediately.