Antisocial residents on a troubled Worthing estate face a crackdown which could leave them homeless.

Housing officials want to put people on a year's probation and if they misbehave during that period they can be evicted.

The Southern Housing Group manages an estate of 271 homes in West Durrington, Worthing, covering Shelby Road, Carisbrooke Drive, Whitebeam Road, Manitoba Way, Vancouver Road, Rochester Close, Scotney Close and Highclere Way.

A report to councillors on Wednesday states: "The estate has had a number of problems with antisocial behaviour over the last few years, including vandalism, hooligans, litter and rubbish in the street, and noise from neighbours and visitors."

Now Southern Housing is planning a pilot project where tenants are put on probation and offered long-term tenancies after a year - if they behave.

But councillors have been warned: "There is a danger the introduction of a scheme designed to reduce antisocial behaviour might stigmatise the area and its residents."

The group has recently appointed a community development worker and provided warring neighbours on the estate with a mediation service.

Council officials said the scheme would speed up the removal of antisocial tenants and also act as a deterrent.