HOUSEHOLDS have accused the police and St Albans district council of not doing enough to help with a neighbour from hell. Despite numerous complaints about the actions of the woman, who lives in London Colney in a road we cannot identify for legal reasons

HOUSEHOLDS have accused the police and St Albans district council of not doing enough to help with a neighbour from hell.

Despite numerous complaints about the actions of the woman, who lives in London Colney in a road we cannot identify for legal reasons, they say nothing has been done to ease their plight.

On Friday police got a search warrant to enter the woman's house to search for drugs and stolen goods but the afternoon raid found nothing and was criticised by neighbours for being carried out at the wrong time of the day.

Residents are now considering getting up a petition in a bid to get rid of the woman whom they accuse of staying up all night with her lodgers, swearing and banging doors, so they can't sleep.

They maintain their complaints are met by abuse and they have been keeping records of noise-filled nights which have been sent to the council on a regular basis.

One neighbour said: "There have been many complaints to the council but although their own literature and policies clearly define how such residents will be dealt with, nothing has been done to either remedy or resolve the problems and give assurances to the mostly elderly and disabled residents living close by."

Karen Dragovic, head of housing at St Albans council, said she could not comment about the specific case for reasons of confidentiality and data protection.

But she stressed that the council investigated all complaints about noise and other forms of nuisance it received about its tenants and leaseholders and said there were two main course of action open - applying for an injunction preventing the nuisance from reoccurring or obtaining an order for possession of the property.

She added: "If we decide to proceed with court action in a particular case, we may ask the complainants if they would be prepared to provide evidence as a witness."

St Albans Police Chief Inspector Richard Hann said they were aware of problems at the house and told the Herts Advertiser: "We would like to reassure residents that we take all reports of incidents relating to this property extremely seriously.

"We are looking into them and we continue to work closely with our partner agencies, including the council, to resolve issues raised.