THE ordeal that two families suffered at the hands of nuisance neighbour Michael Stuart Kirby were summarised by a police chief as "years of torment."

And what a hell they underwent in 19 years living next door to him.

One of the couples had their kitchen flooded when Kirby made a hole in the wall and shoved a hosepipe through.

His neighbours in Charles Street, Oswaldtwistle, were bombarded by the din of DIY, loud music and the TV blaring into the early hours. In desperation, one pair even built an extra wall in their bedroom to shut out the noise -- yet still ended up having to sleep downstairs.

On and on the nightmare went for all those years. Why should anyone have to suffer so much for so long? Thank goodness, they need not any longer -- as the law showed when it came to the overdue relief of the families by making him the first nuisance neighbour in East Lancashire to be issued with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

If he breaks its strict conditions, he faces instant arrest, being taken to court and suffering a heavy fine or even prison.

This measure sets a standard not only for 49-year-old Kirby but also for the communities everywhere -- as it puts the shackles on the sort of bad behaviour that for too long too many "neighbours from hell" have been able to get away with.

Yet for it to be effective, it must be seen to be used so that no troublemaker or neighbourhood lout can ignore or be unaware of its deterrent powers.

The law which gives councils and the police the ability to seek Anti-Social Behaviour Orders has been in force for 14 months but, as Home Secretary Jack Straw complained last week, only 80 have been issued.

It behoves the authorities to use the law and act swiftly and extensively in every case of people having their lives made a misery by bad neighbours and young louts -- if the sort of hell that these couples underwent and that is so common on some of East Lancashire's housing estates is to be eradicated.