THE tenant of a Blackburn house notorious for all night parties blasted her eviction as ‘inhumane’ at a court hearing.

Parties at Ann-Marie Ward’s home in Walsh Street, in the Infirmary area, led to a fire at the property and 13-year-old girls mixing with ‘hardened street drinkers’.

As Blackburn magistrates retired to consider the police’s application to board up the house for three months, Ward claimed the bid was ‘inhumane’ and asked officers present why they were ‘trying to evict a 53-year-old woman and her dog’.

However magistrates, who moved to close the house, said parties at her home had ‘endangered lives’ and disrupted the rights of neighbours.

Chairman of the bench Stan Alcock said Ward had repeatedly broken promises to the authorities to stop the parties.

He said: “On one occasion problems led to significant fire damage, which not only endangered the lives of those inside, but also the lives of innocent neighbours.”

“Neighbours have used all reasonable means to overcome the problem and stop the disruption.

“Many promises have been made by Ann Marie Ward to the police and the local authority, to no avail. On one occasion an incident occurred just 20 minutes after a promise was made.”

He went on to describe how an Environmental Health order was breached by Miss Ward three times. When her stereo equipment was seized she then went out and bought a new one.

Earlier Liz Parker, defending, had asked for more time so her client could find somewhere else to live.

She said: “My client is a vulnerable age and will be homeless. She has a dog and items of property at the house that she cannot carry around with her. She will be penniless and walking the streets.”

Chris Kehoe, prosecuting, said that in light of the earlier fire there were ‘concerns’ about allowing Ward to stay overnight.

Mr Alcock said the bench were ‘sympathetic’ to the request but that it was a matter for the police.

PC Chris Hammill said: “I’m sure the residents of Walsh Street will be very happy with this decision. Now we have the closure order we could insist the house is closed immediately, however she will be given time to collect some personal items.”