A serial hoarder who refused to clear the dog dirt, bags of rotten food and cockroaches that infested her home has been evicted.

Susan Nicholson, 52, has been turfed out of her terraced home in Deckham, Gateshead after failing to respond to warnings from her landlord.

When inspected, the privately rented home on Caris Street was littered with dog dirt, rotting food and bags of rubbish, and cockroaches were found to have infested the property.

Nicholson's car was packed with bags and clothes before she was seen driving away from the house.

Bailiffs, the landlord and staff from the letting agency surrounded the property as Nicholson made her way from the home.

Families living near the nightmare neighbour have spoken of their relief following her eviction.

Security guard, Jason Cram, 37, said: "It's absolutely shocking , you don't know who's living next door to you.

"It's really bad, I can't believe there are cockroaches in there.

"I'm going to get straight onto my landlord to make sure non of them get into my house.

"If they get into the wall cavity that will be it.

"It's scary, we live in the 21st Century and people shouldn't be living like that nowadays.

"Fingers crossed that now she is out the cleaners will go in and get the place tidied up.

"It's no good having to live next to that."

Nicholson, who suffers from health problems, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of assault, ill treatment and neglect of a child under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

She was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 12 months' supervision and was also ordered to pay £40 court costs.