AN INVESTIGATION is to be launched into a family from hell who have made neighbours’ lives a misery since being thrown out of their former Hampshire home for abusive and unruly behaviour.

Four members of the family of ten were arrested in the latest incident.

A window was smashed and members of the family threatened people living nearby.

Council chiefs last night vowed to look into the case.

The family was moved to Southampton by social services in November after they were evicted from their old home in Hedge End following a two-year legal battle.

The Daily Echo understands that one family living close to their current home has fled to a hotel after being repeatedly subjected to abuse, which culminated in the latest incident on Friday night.

Police were called to the street after tempers flared when a window was broken at a neighbouring property.

As they attempted to arrest two 15-year-old boys and calm the heated situation, a 13- year-old girl stepped in and allegedly slapped two of the officers, before she too was arrested.

The mother of the family – who the Daily Echo is prevented from identifying by a court order protecting their identity – was also detained after threatening neighbours in front of officers.

Southampton’s housing boss Cllr Peter Baillie said last night he would be discussing the family’s case with officers.

He said: “It’s disgraceful that neighbours should have to put up with such levels of antisocial behaviour.

“Antisocial behaviour is a real scourge in some areas of Southampton and I’m determined to root it out.

“It’s just unacceptable, and following the latest problems we will need to be looking at whether this really is the best location for their accommodation.”

Last month, the Daily Echo revealed that the family had begun terrorising their new neighbours since being forced out of Hedge End through a rarely-used court action to shut the house down.

People living on the Southampton estate they had been moved to – in privately rented accommodation organised for them by social services – said they had been living in fear ever since.

Terrified neighbours, who asked to have their identities kept secret, told how they have called police to report the family’s vile and violent behaviour on almost a daily basis.

The catalogue of abuse and antisocial behaviour includes damage to cars and property, dog excrement being dumped on doorsteps, frozen condoms being thrown into family gardens, food catapulted over fences, and rubbish and furniture dumped on an estate green.

Police said one incident also saw one member of the family issue a chilling threat to kill a neighbour.

Some have installed their own CCTV cameras in a bid to gather evidence of the behaviour, while police have stepped up patrols in the area.

A police spokesman said last night a 15-year-old boy has been charged with criminal damage and resisting arrest following Friday’s incident. He has been bailed to appear before Southampton Youth Court next Tuesday.

A 13-year-old girl is also due at the youth court next Tuesday after being charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer.

A 41-year-old woman was charged with threatening behaviour and bailed to appear before Southampton Magistrates’ Court on July 11.