A WOMAN accused of swearing at neighbours – and encouraging members of her family to join in the abuse during a long standing row – was given an interim ASBO this week. It is alleged that Michelle Harris has been involved in a catalogue of anti-social beh

A WOMAN accused of swearing at neighbours - and encouraging members of her family to join in the abuse during a long standing row - was given an interim ASBO this week.

It is alleged that Michelle Harris has been involved in a catalogue of anti-social behaviour, shouting abuse and being aggressive towards neighbour Jennifer Atkinson and her family.

Forty-three-year-old Harris had also been aggressive to a police officer when she was served with a summons, and was aggressive towards a housing officer, Fenland magistrates heard on Tuesday.

During an incident in September, she repeatedly banged on a neighbour's door, damaging it in the process, and shouting for it to be opened. Earlier in the day she had called a neighbour "a slag" and a "grass," and swore as she told her to keep her mouth shut.

On another occasion, it is alleged she swore at a neighbour as she complained: "you've reported my dog again."

When served with a notice last November, she swore before opening the door and threw the envelope back, the court was told.

Harris, of 97 Bath Road, Wisbech, has vowed to fight the imposition of a full ASBO and Fenland magistrates will hear that application on April 20.

Applying for the interim ASBO on behalf of the Chief Constable, Andrew Logan said the order was needed to bring a halt to problem. "This is a neighbour's dispute, some incidents to back several years," he added.

Harris's solicitor John Clarke said: "All the evidence us that her family and friends have done the abusing while they have been in the control of, or inside number 97 Bath Road."

Under the interim ASBO, Harris is prohibited from

* Abusing, insulting, harassing or threatening or acting in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress to any person within Fenland.

* Encouraging, inciting or directing friends or family to abuse, insult, harass, threaten or act in a manner which causes or is likely to cause nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress to a witness in these proceedings, namely Jennifer Atkinson, Patricia Atkinson or Paula Birch.