AN East Lancashire borough has been held up as leading light in the war against anti-social neighbours.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw heaped praise on council bosses and police chiefs in Hyndburn for leading the crusade against people who wreck the lives of their neighbours and fellow residents.

Mr Straw spoke out in favour of his neighbouring borough after it was revealed Hyndburn Council, in conjunction with police in Accrington, was pursuing more Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) than any other area of the country.

While areas like Liverpool have issued more ASBOs, none have as many being processed as Hyndburn, with orders being pursued against five people.

Mr Straw said: "It pleases me immensely to see Hyndburn leading the way with this scheme. It is a shires borough and does not have the same money as unitary authorities to pursue action against troublemakers but the police and the council are working together to improve the quality of lives for people."

Two ASBOs have been served in Hyndburn so far in a bid to stop troublemakers behaving badly. Both the people who have had the orders served against them -- 17-year-old Lee Birkett, of Great Harwood, and 49-year-old Michael Kirby, of Oswaldtwistle -- have since left the area. Five more are being pushed through the courts over the next two months.

Should anyone breach an ASBO, they face five years in jail.

Mr Straw added: "Hyndburn is putting many other councils to shame and ripping through the list of excuses which have been presented to me as reasons councils aren't pushing ahead with these orders.

"They should be proud of what they are achieving and I hope other boroughs look to them."

Insp Dale Allen of Accrington Police said: "We believe ASBOs can go a long way to help improve the quality of people's lives. Often, simply the removal of a person from an area can eradicate the problem, as we have seen with the two people we have served ASBOs against. We will continue to target the people who are ruining the lives of others through their anti social behaviour."

A council spokesman said: "We are happy to work with the police to help improve the lives of people in Hyndburn."

One ASBO has been issued in Blackburn, which was one of the trial districts, and two have been served in Burnley in relation to one incident.