FEW things can be more unpleasant than having to share a street with householders who just don't care about their neighbours.

Thankfully most people behave as they would like others to behave to them - showing common courtesy and consideration to those living alongside them.

But then there are the parents who, according to Blackburn's Ivy Street Community Association, allow children as young as nine to regularly stay out on Infirmary Street playing music and shouting until three or four o'clock in the morning.

At the weekend, vice-chairman Brian Booth said police had to be called out four times because of young people "shouting and screaming" in the street.

And, as the local police community officer says, the problem isn't so much criminal activities but anti social behaviour which is not so easy to deal with.

If the offending families were tenants of a housing association their landlord would be able to impose sanctions to force parents to exercise their responsibilities or face eviction.

But since most of the homes involved are owned by private landlords, such weapons are not so readily available.

Ward councillor Florence Oldfield says she has asked police to look closely at the problem and a register of private landlords might help to impose pressure on unruly families.

Something must be done to make the parents of these youngsters wake up to their responsibilities.