A PILOT scheme to help crack down on antisocial behaviour by so called "problem" families in Southampton looks set to be given the go-ahead by city housing bosses.

The scheme dubbed Taking Control, will see families who cause a nuisance to their neighbours being referred for counselling about their behaviour to a special antisocial behaviour team.

Under the pilot project - based on a similar scheme already operating in the Scottish city of Dundee - problem families will be referred to their council housing office if their behaviour is causing difficulties.

Specially trained council staff will work with the family and neighbours to try and get to the root of the problems.

The work may include the drawing-up of acceptable behaviour contracts.

Key issues that are likely to be addressed by the project workers will include employment, independent living skills, domestic violence, drug abuse and parenting skills.

The scheme, which is due to be approved next Monday, has been drawn up in order to avoid the housing merry-go-round where antisocial families are evicted from council properties - only to be rehoused.

But housing chiefs stress that the scheme would not mean that antisocial families could continue occupying their homes indefinitely and eviction would always remain an option.