A DISTRAUGHT family forced to get rid of its dogs over a feud with neighbours now faces a second eviction threat.

Mother-of-four Heather Sargeant is at her wits' end and claims that she is being deliberately "victimised" in a bid to drive her out of the area.

Last month she found new owners for two of her German shepherd dogs and reluctantly had a third destroyed in order to save her home after neighbours complained about noise and mess from the animals.

But Swaythling Housing Society has continued to receive complaints about Mrs Sargeant, who rents a four-bedroom house at Hazel Close in Colden Common, near Winchester.

She has been formally warned that court action may be taken to evict her from the premises if another complaint is made over the next 28 days.

"I have been told that complaints have been made about my children making a noise and loud music coming from my house.

"As far as I am concerned the housing society is being totally and utterly biased.

"I do not play my music loud and my children only make as much noise as any other youngsters. We are getting the blame for everything, but we have suffered abuse and my children are now frightened.

"We have already suffered the trauma of getting rid of our dogs because of the complaints, but it appears that that is not good enough and now we stand to lose our home."

One next door neighbour declined to comment, saying that publicity will not solve the problem. Director of housing Nicholas Harris said: "We are obviously concerned that despite the previous action taken by the Swaythling Housing Society to resolve the difficulties in the area that there are still ongoing problems.

"Only by the local residents and the society working together can we hope to find an amicable resolution to these difficulties.

"However, if there is clear evidence of a nuisance being perpetrated by one or more individuals then we will not hesitate to take robust legal action. I sincerely hope and trust this will not be necessary."

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