TWO ‘houses from hell’ where frequent all-night parties, drunkenness and disorder caused a ‘catalogue of misery’ for neighbours have been closed down.

Yesterday magistrates granted closure orders at the two houses in Every Street, Nelson, and Walton Street, Colne, after hearing how the police and Pendle Council received hundreds of complaints from residents about anti-social-behaviour.

At the Every Street property where 26-year-old Scott Allen lived, neighbours said parties could go on for ‘four or five days’.

There were reports of drunken shouting and swearing on the street, young men urinating at the front door, a fire was started in the back yard and revellers would bang on nearby doors in the early hours.

Mr Allen was made the subject of an injunction by his landlord, Chorley Community Housing, earlier this year but the behaviour and complaints continued.

Sarah Leonard, 23, of Walton Street, close to Colne town centre, also had her flat ‘closed down’ by magistrates.

PC Mark Blackey said so far this year he or his team had been called out to the property more than 40 times for a catalogue of complaints including fighting on the street and loud dance music being played during the quiet hours.

The court heard that there would be a steady stream of visitors to the flat and parties with up to 20 people present would disrupt the neighbourhood.

Neighbour Janet Hubbard said she was so intimidated by gatherings outside the flat she would often be forced to make a detour to back of her property to avoid them.

She said: “They would hammer on the door and shout up at the window at all hours. I just never knew when it would start or stop.

“They would sometimes go out and then return at around 3.30am and the music and shouting could go on until 9am.”

The court ordered that the two properties be closed down for three months, during which time anyone found entering the property can arrested and could face a fine or imprisonment.

The properties have now been boarded up with the details of the closure orders posted on the doors.

Anti social behaviour casework manager PC Karen Isherwood said: “Both these houses have been the cause of serious alarm and distress to other residents whose right to live in their own homes had been taken away by the actions of a few people who have no respect for others.

“Without the help of the residents, who have also been the victim of intimidation, this action could not have been taken.”