A year ago, Etty Avenue was being described by its besieged residents as "hell on earth". Now it is a different story. A crackdown by police and City of York Council has yielded dramatic results as Crime Reporter DAVID WILES disocovered.

IT WAS branded "Beirut". Teenage thugs ruled the streets and terrorised their neighbours so much that six families fled their homes in fear.

The residential road was rarely out of the headlines and the name Etty Avenue had become a byword for violence and intimidation.

But after two problem families were evicted and a third abandoned their home before court proceedings could start, and one of the local gang's ringleaders was served with an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO), the Tang Hall street is like any other on the east side of York.

And residents are optimistic about the future.

Bob Flynn asked the council to move him out of the street just ten weeks after he moved in, in March 1999.

"I thought I knew what to expect when I moved in but it was far, far worse than that," he said.

Mr Flynn's neighbours, the Naylors, were just one of the families had to put up with almost daily attacks.

Fireworks were thrown at them, paint was daubed on their car, their puppy was pelted with bricks and there were arson attacks on their home.

City of York Council's tenancy enforcement team was brought in, and thanks to information supplied by residents, the worst offenders were evicted.

Team manager Denis Southall said: "Residents told us that their quality of life was extremely poor, so we acted to reduce the level of crime and disorder.

"We sent out warnings advising residents that if they were involved in the trouble action would be taken.

"We then collected evidence from the police and other residents and took legal action."

Council cash is now being pumped into the street for environmental and security improvements.

Mr Flynn said the atmosphere in the street had improved considerably since the problem families moved out.

"It's quietened down 100 per cent and there's no real aggro like there used to be," he said.

"There's the odd bit of noise at night but it's just like any other street now."

Supt John Lacy, of York police, said Etty Avenue was a good example of what could be achieved when the authorities and the community worked together.

"A lot of hard work was put in by the council, the police and the residents themselves and I think together we achieved a good result for the street," he said.

A year in the life of Etty Avenue

August 1999 - Former soldier describes Etty Avenue as "worse than any war zone"

September 1999 - Extra police drafted in from Scarborough to help deal with group of 20 youths throwing bricks and attacking local shop.

October 1999 - Family threatened with blood-filled syringes and their guinea pig killed by fireworks.

November 1999 - Naylor family flee house with police guard after spate of attacks.

January 2000 - Naylors move to East Yorkshire after harassment continues.

March 2000 - Final problem family evicted - to the joy of remaining residents.

lAugust 2000 - Residents say Etty Avenue is "just like any other street".

PICTURE: Etty Avenue in Tang Hall, York, once described as "Hell on Earth" but now "just like any other street".