Evans will serve her prison term at Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire

Angela Casa has told BBC Wales she would rather her neighbour Evans was in hospital because of her age.

Her comments came as the pensioner, who was convicted of harassment and six breaches of an Asbo, began a six month jail sentence on Tuesday.

Evans' daughter Barbara Thomas said she had asked her solicitor to appeal.

Evans, of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, will serve at least three months of her six month prison term at Eastwood Park women's prison in Gloucestershire.

It is likely she will need treatment for medical problems, which include a heart condition and hypertension.

She was sentenced by Judge Roderick Denyer QC who said she had made her neighbours' lives "a misery".

Evans was originally convicted in February after committing a string of offences against her next-door neighbours Angela and Roberto Casa, between January and June 2006.

As long as they just removed her off the street or took her to some hospital so that she is away from me and we can have peace and quiet Angela Casa

Mrs Casa described several neighbourly disputes, including rows over parking and flooding problems.

A jury heard how Evans had accused Mrs Casa of being a prostitute and hit her with her walking stick.

She also told Mrs Casa's 13-year-old daughter she was a witch and that she would kill her dog.

Mrs Casa said she was relieved Evans was away from her family.

"I am not happy about the fact that she is in prison for the simple reason of her age," said Mrs Casa, who lives on Park Crescent with her husband Roberto and their children.

"But as long as they just removed her off the street or took her to some hospital so that she is away from me and we can have peace and quiet.

Angela Casa said she had been assaulted by Evans

"She has assaulted myself physically with her walking stick and I am afraid she will assault one of my children."

Other neighbours described their relief at the sentence, which was delayed because Evans failed to turn up at Cardiff Crown Court.

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Wales she believed Evans' notoriety had put people off from buying her home, which, despite being on the market for seven months, had only had one person come to view it.

Evans' daughter Barbara Thomas, who lived with her mother, was said to be worried about how she would cope in prison.

She said she would be asking her solicitor to launch an appeal against the sentencing.