A WOMAN accused of making life a misery for her neighbours is to face an Anti-Social Behaviour Order after being arrested "several" times in the last few weeks.

Action is to be taken against Marilyn Birchenough, 52, of Partridge Hill Street, Padiham, after she was bound over to keep the peace by magistrates twice in two days.

She could now become one of the oldest people in the country to be made subject to an ASBO when the action is brought by Burnley Borough Council and Burnley police, at Burnley Magistrates Court on March 14.

Mrs Birchenough was warned six weeks ago that the council wanted to take her to court and said the threat would stop her behaviour because she did not want to go to jail.

Next-door neighbour Freda Latham, 63, today said it had been quieter but the trouble had not stopped. "The threat of the anti-social behaviour order did not stop her. We have had the police up on several occasions and she has been arrested.

Jack and Christine Pollard live further down the street but still get awakened by the noise.

Christine said: "If we have the grandchildren here and she starts, they are taken home out of the way.

"I saw her on Saturday morning at 6.30am when I was defrosting the car and she had a carrier bag in one hand, a beer can in the other and nothing on her feet.

"It's sad in a way, because when we first moved here about 12 years ago they were a lovely couple."

Christine's husband Jack said: "She has come past our house shouting and creating a noise."

Inspector Martin Hall, of Pennine Police, said: "She has been arrested several times. The latest incident was when she was arrested for breach of the peace on January 27 and was bound over to keep the peace in the sum of £200. Two days later, on January 29, she was back in court and was bound over in the sum of £50."

She has now been officially served with an order to attend court on Friday, March 14, when it will be decided whether to impose an anti-social behaviour order on her.

Her husband, Victor Holt ,said Mrs Birchenough, who uses her maiden name, was no longer living with him.

A Home Office spokesman said ASBOs were usually issued to juveniles and people aged between 20 and 30-years-old.