A MUM-of-eight has been evicted from her home after a series of complaints over serious anti-social behaviour in and around the property.

Florence Hitchin was ordered to vacate the house within two hours of the order being made after the police successfully applied for the property to be closed.

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Evidence of persistent serious anti-social behaviour associated with the property was heard by Blackburn Magistrates as the reason for the closure order under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 which came into force in October.

The case is the first time Lancashire Police has used the new legislation for a closure order in the county.

Officers boarded up the house in in Mosley Street, Mill Hill, which is owned by a private landlord in London, after the ruling which made it a criminal offence for anyone to enter the property until March 16, 2015, unless permission is given by the police.

Mrs Hitchen, 43, who has lived in the house since November 2013, represented herself at the civil hearing, but did not challenge the order.

Nitin Borde, who represented Lancashire Police, said: "This order is not against the person but against the property.

"It is being made because of the evidence of disorderly behaviour and serious anti-social behaviour associated with the property over the last year.

"These include kicking a football against front doors, rowdy behaviour in the street which has stopped neighbours getting any sleep and groups congregating outside the house.

"No-one can go inside the property for three months and we have informed the landlord about the proceedings.

"He has told the police that he has not received any rent from Mrs Hitchen since February this year."

Giving evidence at the hearing PC Scott Boast, the community beat manager for the Infirmary area of Blackburn, said: "From my point of view this is pretty much the last option available to us.

"Her reaction to this order has been blasé and it seems that she was not aware that it would get this far.

"To my knowledge she has eight children of various ages but different people seem to be living at the house whenever you turn up."

Statements from nearby residents including Christine Dunn and Patricia O'Callahan were presented to the court as evidence of anti-social behaviour associated with the property.

Speaking after the hearing PC Boast said: "Residents living in the area have been miserable for the last 12 months.

"I'm very pleased that we have been able to use this new legislation to address serious concerns that members of the public have had for a long time about this property.

"It sends a strong message to tenants that if they do not resolve problems affecting the community then we will step in.

"It also sends a message to landlords that if they do not take responsible action then we will do it instead."