One in three hate their neighbours

One in three Londoners would like to move house to escape their neighbours - three times more than the national average - a new survey reveals today.

The main reason given was noise - anything from loud music to door banging, rowing and dogs barking - which upset 43 per cent of those surveyed, followed by "lack of respect" (13 per cent).

The research, by National Opinion Poll for The Halifax, also found that London's unfriendly reputation may be justified. Only one in five Londoners meet their neighbours on moving day - although by the end of the first week in a new home more than half said they had been introduced.

A spokeswoman for Mediation UK, which helps neighbours and others resolve disputes, said that levels of dissatisfaction with neighbours was on the up, adding: "There's definitely been an increase in the number of referrals we've received from environmental health officers, councils and citizens advice bureaus in the past year.

"Council officers have been asking for our number to print in booklets produced to help the public because they are getting a lot more enquiries."

The most high-profile case of nuisance neighbours involved 76-year-old Ellen Jones from Newchapel, Surrey, who was taken to court after neighbours accused her of catching and eating their pet koi carp in a dispute over noise.

She was also accused of allowing her home to be used for late-night raves, paint-ball games and growing cannabis. She was ordered to pay £10,000 damages last year.

The Goverment is concerned about the scale of the problem and, under a scheme unveiled earlier in the year, nuisance neighbours could be fined £100 on the spot if they are found to be upsetting residents. Environmental health officers have also been given new powers to seize stereo equipment.

Under anti-social laws, teenage yobs who terrorise neighbours could be named even if they are under 18, according to the Respect and Responsibility White Paper published in March.

Ministers are also considering a plan to strip nuisance neighbours of some benefit payments if they persistently harass others.