FOUR youngsters who have caused havoc on a Burnley estate have signed promises to stop behaving like louts.

Burnley's largest landlord, Burnley and Padiham Community Housing, has served acceptable behaviour contracts on the youths who are all from the Griffin estate, off Accrington Road.

The youngsters' parents are all tenants of the housing association.

If they break the contracts, the youths, all boys aged 12,13,14 and 16, could face detention.

The catalogue of misbehaviour includes vandalism, verbal abuse, throwing stones at windows, running amok in gardens and throwing fireworks.

A BPCH spokesman said: "Just because they are not the tenants does not mean that we have no sanctions available. We hope that the ABC's will send a clear message to other youths causing nuisance and misery to local residents. All parents now know that they must keep their children under control.

"The contracts also highlight the zero tolerance approach towards anti-social behaviour by the company, and the determination we are showing in dealing effectively with juvenile nuisance.

"We are now working very closely with the communities and with other agencies, such as police community beat officers, to present a unified approach to tackling anti-social elements on the estates.

"We are determined to use all means at our disposal to give residents the peaceful environment which they deserve.

"Whether the perpetrators are BPCH tenants or not, we will tirelessly tackle the anti-social elements on our estates.

"The action will not stop there.

"Should the youths breach the ABC, the next step will be to apply for an anti-social behaviour order.

"If a youth then breaches the ASBO it can result in a custodial sentence."