A mum and her two teenage sons have been given six weeks to get out of their home after putting neighbours though a "living nightmare".

Oxford County Court passed an eviction notice on Marion Jackson-Smyth and sons Tristan, 18, and Gareth, 16, after the Vale Housing Association said they caused persistent neighbourhood nuisance.

Next-door neighbour Gordon Butterton told the Oxford Mail: "It has been a living nightmare. When that eviction notice was passed, it was just like winning the lottery."

The court heard a catalogue of complaints against the family, who live in Bradstocks Way, Sutton Courtenay, including:

*DAMAGING neighbours' houses, including throwing paint through windows;

*SPITTING and using abusive language at neighbours using their gardens;

*SHOUTING and playing loud music, disrupting neighbours' children from homework.

But Mrs Jackson-Smyth hit back today, accusing her neighbours of lying and the housing association of dumping her family on the streets.

She said: "My sons are no angels but this is a personality clash between my family and one particular neigh- bour.

"What's been said is just out-and-out lies." Accountant Mrs Jackson-Smyth, 46, added: "We have got nowhere to go. The housing association seems prepared to make us homeless."

She said the eviction notice was the result of friction between her sons and their next-door neighbour. She claimed Mr Butterton had never tried to talk problems through with her or her sons, and had threatened violence.

Mr Butterton, 41, who lives with wife Christine, 34, and nine-year-old daughter Lydia, said he had tried to sell up ever since the family first moved into the semi-detached house in January 1997.

He admitted he had lost his temper with her sons but claimed that when he tried to reason with them he only got abuse.

Mike Roberts, chief executive of the Vale Housing Association, said he was pleased with the court's decision.

"We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour," he added. "My staff have had a long uphill battle gathering all the evidence needed to stand up in court, but I am pleased that Mrs Jackson-Smyth's neighbours will finally be able to live in peace."

The association was also full of praise for the neighbours who were prepared to go to court.

Roy Dixon, senior recovery officer, said: "We would like to thank the tenants who gave evidence in court.

"We as a plaintiff can say what we like, but we will never get a conviction without the help of neighbours."

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