TOO many communities in East Lancashire suffer from the curse of juvenile nuisance and much of it is caused and worsened by under-age drinking.

There will, then, be much attention given to the joint clampdown launched today by the police and a housing company to catch teenage drinkers plaguing a neighbourhood -- and even have tenants evicted if their children carry on drinking on the streets.

It may be that eviction is a severe, last-resort step, but social landlord Twin Valley Homes, who took over Blackburn and Darwen's council houses two years ago, warn the threat is real -- and cite the case of a tenant who was evicted for refusing to keep her garden tidy as proof of their determination to deal with anti-social behaviour.

Most people, we are sure, will applaud this tough stance because it gives priority to the improving the quality of life of people living in troubled areas and puts the responsibility for juvenile nuisance where it lies -- with parents.

For the aim of this crackdown is not just to catch the louts who have been making life a misery for people in the Bank Top and Wensley Fold area and showering a school playground with broken alcopop and beer bottles, but to stop them altogether. And the 'or else' measures include the threat of anti-social behaviour orders as well as eviction. There will be many people in the area wishing swift success to this scheme and others elsewhere across East Lancashire eager for similar action in their neighbourhood.