Police have made 24 arrests on the Mount Estate

One tenant was forced to leave the Mount Estate in Milford Haven two weeks ago and two more left after notices were served.

The crackdown follows an incident last month when 24 people were arrested after trouble flared up on the estate.

Pembrokeshire county council warns that formal action has been initiated against 16 tenants and more cases are under investigation.

About 12 notices have been sent out either terminating tenancies or seeking possession of properties.

The authority takes nuisance caused by its tenants very seriously, and will take action that may result in eviction where there is evidence of this Councillor Bill Roberts

Three tenants are due in court in August.

While welcoming the council's actions, some residents have said it is too little too late and claim they warned of potential trouble six months ago.

Unlike the larger disturbances at Caia Park in Wrexham which overshadowed the trouble at Milford Haven, there was no racial element to the unrest.

Dyfed-Powys Police and the local authority have blamed mainly young people involved in drug abuse for the problems.

Both say they are working together closely to gather of evidence of nuisance or other criminal offences on the estate.

Cabinet member for housing Bill Roberts said: "The authority takes nuisance caused by its tenants very seriously, and will take action that may result in eviction where there is evidence of this."

He warned tenants who are evicted because of nuisance will not normally be re-housed, either by the council or local housing associations.

Trouble started on the Mount estate on 25 June when eight people were arrested followed by another 12 the following day after a police raid.

One person has been evicted and more could follow

Four more people were later arrested.

Dyfed-Powys Police say some were charged with affray while others have been charged with public order offences or cautioned for drug offences.

Colin Robbins works at the Acorn Resource Centre which was set-up by residents on the estate two years to provide access to information about jobs and housing.

'Harsh lesson'

He said there were still incidents of anti-social behaviour but nothing compared to the situation last week.

"I know that residents really welcome a strong reaction by the council - but it's got to be a strong stance as it has gone beyond threats.

"In my opinion they have got to stand up and be counted and these people have got to learn a harsh lesson I'm afraid."

He estimated there was a hard core of around 12 troublemakers on the estate which is home to about 1200.

"There has been warning signs for the last six months and we made the local authority aware of this," he added.