A woman troubled by 'neigh- bours-from-hell' has welcomed new Government measures to lock rowdy residents out of their own homes for up to 12 weeks.

But a pensioner plagued by antisocial yobs fears the measures will not work.

Ministers hope the policy will send out a tough message about noise and bad behaviour to the country's most persistent nuisance families.

The last-resort plans, which could become law as early as next year, mean police and local authorities will be able to temporarily close and seal a house for three months.

Bicester homeowner Paula Burden, who suffered a six-year campaign of harassment, thinks the tough new eviction measures could work.

She is still waiting for compensation from her neighbours Paula and Kwok Hang Ho, of Tweed Crescent, who were ordered by a judge to pay her family £26,000 in February.

The feud began in 2002, when the Burdens complained about cooking smells. The Ho's mounted a harassment campaign which included making more than 50 complaints of racism to police.

Mrs Burden said: "I think it's a brilliant idea. I'm in favour of any law change to look at the problem of nuisance neighbours. I think these measures could have helped and maybe even prevented my court case."

The measures would apply to homes and business premises. Safeguards would be in place to ensure the well-being of any children or vulnerable adults.

But Joyce Fry, who has been plagued by antisocial yobs in Peat Moors, Oxford, for three years, is not so sure the measures will work. The 79-year-old said: "I don't think it would be advisable to lock people out of their homes. It might lead to people taking the law into their own hands.

"I think it would cause more uproar in the community. The only way to solve the problem is to have more discipline in the home as youngsters."

City councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan also had doubts. He said: "There should be some other way to deal with this than locking people out of their homes. Three months is a long time to be thrown out."