A quarter of a million nuisance neighbours were reported to the police last year, according to official figures.

Forces in England and Wales received 254,089 complaints about rowdy neighbours, it was revealed.

They were among nearly four million reports of anti-social behaviour recorded by police in 2007-8.

A detailed breakdown showed more than half were about rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour, shouting or swearing or general nuisance, with 2,345,184 incidents reported to police.

The figures were uncovered by shadow home secretary Chris Grayling. He said: "Anti-social behaviour is blighting communities up and down the country. Despite all the Government's tough talk and rhetoric, the harsh reality is that most acts of anti-social behaviour go unpunished. Small wonder then, that things have been getting worse. It's got to stop."

The figures showed police recorded nearly 190,000 complaints about obscene or nuisance phone calls, letters or texts - or 500 every day.

Officers also recorded more than 160,000 incidents of vehicles being abandoned, and 142,000 hoax calls to the emergency services.

There were 72,000 complaints about noise, 76,000 complaints about animals behaving badly and 66,000 about drinking in the street. None was regarded as serious enough to be recorded as a crime.

The Home Office said surveys showed the number of people who thought anti-social behaviour was a problem fell by 5% to 16% between 2002 and 2008.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: "Our approach has always been tackling, not tolerating anti-social behaviour. We have given local authorities and the police the tools and powers they need to remove any barriers to taking action against anti-social behaviour.