A WORCESTER couple have had an anti-social behaviour order slapped on them for their noisy, foul and abusive actions towards neighbours.

West Mercia police collected written evidence from 15 residents in Victoria Street, Northwick, detailing a six-month campaign waged by Jayne Smith and Robert Wallis.

Applicant Neil Campbell said 36-year-old Smith, from Victoria Street, had been the main culprit, but Wallis, 34, from Norwich Road, had also played his part.

With one neighbour comparing the street to a war zone, Mr Campbell said the list, collated by PC Nicholas Stinton, also showed Smith had threatened people's children with abusive language.

Families were so desperate they even considered moving out, Worcester magistrates heard.

An out-of-control dog, loud arguments and music, noisy car horns, slammed car doors and youths congregating outside the house were all reported this year.

At yesterday's trial, Bruce Mourby, local housing manager for Worcester City Council, said the problems had been nuisance and noise.

Both denied their behaviour had been anti-social.

Recipient for Smith, David Jackson, said the alleged offences did not warrant an ASBO.

"It started off as a parking dispute between neighbours," he said. "Lots has been made about the problem about the dog. There was some swearing. Maybe she should not have sworn at the police, but these do not merit an ASBO."

Recipient for Wallis, Andrew Childs, said his client only visited the house and incidents involving him, "could be counted on the fingers of two hands".

Magistrates said they had studied the witness statements and felt people would have felt alarm, distress and harassment.

"What has weighed heavily is that none of this evidence has been challenged," they said.

Both were given two-year ASBOs, which run until November 8, 2004, and cover Worcester City.

Both have been warned not to use foul, abusive or threatening language towards people, make noise which intrudes into other houses, or deliberately engage in conduct likely to cause distress, alarm or harassment to people.

Smith was told to stop visitors congregating outside her Victoria Street house and keep her dog under proper control.