POOR parents will be sent back to the classroom in a last-ditch bid to save their families from eviction.

York council tenants whose out-of-control offspring torment neighbours will benefit from a £25,000 cash boost.

Enforcement officers have pledged to use the money to help set up compulsory classes for struggling parents.

Neil McFarlane, of the tenancy enforcement team, said a "small knot" of up to a dozen families in the city were likely to be targeted.

Those who failed to mend their ways and continued to disrupt their communities with noise, vandalism and harassment might face eviction.

Mr McFarlane said: "A lot of our casework is down to dysfunctional families and lack of parental supervision. We do need to do more in terms of resettlement and rehabilitation.

"The funding is very welcome. If we can do something to address underlying problems such as these then it will filter through to residents.

"The biggest challenge for us is bringing about sustainable change. We are good at enforcement and evictions, but we need to do more to make people change their lifestyles for the long term."

His comments follow news that City of York Council scooped the cash as part of the Intensive Family Support programme.

The scheme, which will be introduced in 50 problem areas of England and Wales, aims to improve the way bad parents bring up their children.

Ministers want to tackle the minority of families who blight their communities with excess noise, vandalism and graffiti.

A Home Office survey of the difficult families found that almost half of them believed that a Government crackdown would help them change their behaviour.

Last year the Evening Press revealed that 18 nuisance neighbours had been kicked out by the council in as many months.

Enforcement officers have taken a strong stand against those responsible for problems in the community, and have appealed for residents to give them information and evidence.

In December, Chapelfields resident Rosy Garnett received praise from Prime Minister Tony Blair for taking a stand against her nuisance neighbour, Nicola Brown.

Mrs Garnett, who endured two years of nightmare behaviour and intimidation, said other people who suffered abuse needed to be persistent and determined to make a difference.

Case study 1

KAREN WARWICK, 31, was evicted from her home in Stuart Road, Acomb, after a string of complaints from neighbours which dated back more than ten years.

Problems caused by her family include serious and persistent noise, harassing staff at a local shop, threatening neighbours with violence and trespassing.

The behaviour did not end with herself or her two children. Magistrates also ordered her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Roly, to remain muzzled in public after it bit two council officers.

Ms Warwick was kicked out in July after being given a final warning earlier in the year by York County Court, when she was told that further nuisance would see her lose her home.

Council enforcement officers said that the situation "deteriorated", despite the warning. Ms Warwick is now banned from applying for council housing for two years.

Case study 2

TEENAGER Nicola Brown was evicted for serious noise nuisance after repeated warnings about breaching her secure tenancy agreement.

The 19-year-old said she was "gutted" at having to leave her Bramham Road, York, home, after the council won a court victory against her for persistent problems.

She was handed a suspended two-year possession order but, when her behaviour did not improve, she was told to leave in August.

Police said property from five burglaries had been found at the house in 2003, including keys to four stolen cars. Miss Brown was convicted of handling stolen goods last year.

One neighbour described living near Miss Brown as "absolute hell", but said residents had pulled together to get rid of her.

Updated: 08:43 Tuesday, February 15, 2005