Elgar Housing Association has launched a crackdown on anti-social tenants, bringing court action against three in Malvern.

In one case, a county court judge granted Elgar a possession order, giving it the right to evict the tenant. The order has been implemented.

Evicted tenants are deemed to have made themselves intentionally homeless and Elgar is not obliged to find them another home.

In the other two cases, the association was given suspended orders, which means the tenants will be evicted unless they mend their ways.

Elgar owns more than 5,000 houses across the Malvern and Ledbury area.

Area housing manager Peter Gill said: "All three cases were concerned with noise.

"There was also friction between neighbours, harassment and verbal abuse of people who asked for the noise to be turned down."

All three cases were in the Malvern area.

He said that moves to evict tenants are not undertaken lightly.

"Judges do not want to deprive people of their homes for no good reason, so we have to show that the problems are ongoing," he said.

"Before it comes to that stage, we try mediation between neighbours to try to solve the problems."

Working with the police and Malvern Hills District Coun-cil, Elgar also has the option of using Acceptable Behav-iour Contracts and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

"This is a growing problem. Some people do not have any consideration for their neighbours. Their attitude is 'it's my house and I'll do what I like in it'," said Mr Gill. "We have every sympathy with the victims of such behaviour."

Clare Huyton, Elgar's executive director, said: "We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour, it affects the quality of life of our tenants.

"It costs a great deal of money and time to take people to court and we would rather invest this in improving homes, but action will always be taken."

The Community Safety Partnership, of which Elgar is a member, has recently formed a sub-committee to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Malvern Hills District Council, also a partnership member, is expected to approve a new post of anti-social behaviour officer at its executive board meeting on Tuesday.

The post is part of a two year Government funded pilot project to improve the quality of life for residents by tackling problems of anti-social behaviour.