A LEIGH family whose behaviour blighted a council estate and made vacant properties difficult to let, have finally been evicted.

Court bailiffs and officers from Wigan & Leigh Housing Company arrived at 18 Larch Road, Westleigh, to carry out the eviction, only to find the family had already left.

A housing company spokesman said Paul and Linda Long and their four children were actually being evicted for rent arrears although there had previously been numerous allegations of anti-social behaviour.

Deputy Chief Executive of Wigan and Leigh Housing, Tony Gerrard said: "We are fully commited to addressing anti-social behaviour on our estates."