A TWELVE-year-old boy has become the first in East Lancashire to sign up to a contract promising to stop being a lout.

His parents also had to sign the acceptable behaviour agreement, pledging that he will be at home by 8pm they will keep him under supervision and that he will not be involved in any more anti-social activities.

The boy has promised not to light fires, throw stones or other objects at residents, cars or passers-by, use abusive or threatening language or hang around other people's property.

The Burnley housing company's tenancy enforcement team worked with police to get the first contract with the boy and his parents following complaints by neighbours on the town's Kibble Bank estate.

Four more acceptable behaviour contracts are on the way in the Padiham, Griffin and Woodbine areas Burnley.

Residents on the Kibble Bank estate welcomed the news but said it went nowhere far enough.

One woman commented: "This is one boy but there are many others who make our lives a misery. Living up here has become a nightmare."

She added: "Seventy per cent of the houses are owner occupied and we feel our homes are being devalued because of anti-social elements being brought on to the estate by the council and now the housing company."

She told of a tot of two years still playing out at 11.40pm, of damage to cars, houses and garden fences, noise until the early hours, obscene abuse, assualts and motorbikes being ridden along the narrow walkways.

Another resident said that following damage to the back of her home she was spending £280 on a spiked fence. "It is that bad we are having to fence ourselves in," she said.

Another told of having to replace five tyres on her car within weeks because of them being deliberately punctured by nails and screws. The bodywork was also damaged.

One told of a 60-year-old man who broke down in tears in front of his neighbours because he was so frustrated and fed up with the constant harassment. None wanted to be identified for fear of being singled out by young hooligans.

They said the latest problem was of youngsters camping out on one of the small grassed areas and running around like hooligans until three in the morning.

One woman said: "I was physically sick because of worry. When I went out to remonstrate with them a boy of 12 urinated in front of me."

They called for the housing company and police to take action against more of the trouble-makers.

The acceptable behaviour contracts are voluntary between the police, housing company and the perpetrator.

Although the contract is not legally binding, if broken it can be used as evidence in obtaining an anti-social behaviour order which does have serious legal consequences including prison or young offender institute sentences.

Marketing manager for the housing company Alan Tyrrell said several other acceptable behaviour contracts were in the pipeline.

He added: "Wehope that through these contracts we are now starting to make an impact on this undesirable element of our society and to make estates better for the majority of law abiding citizens."

The tenancy enforcement team was set up to prevent rent arrears, anti-social behaviour and crime on local former council house estates now run by the company.

Mr Tyrrell said the team was there to help the vast majority of customers who were law abiding.

He warned they would take action against people carrying out racist attacks, peddling drugs or who were involved in vandalism or other anti-social acts.

Anyone with information about such activities is asked to contact the company offices on 01282 421100 or to ring Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555111.