A GROUP of neighbours are celebrating a court victory after representing themselves in a legal battle over a missing drain-pipe.

Four households in Dill Hall Lane, Church, have won their appeals against enforcement notices served by Hyndburn Council demanding that they contribute to the replacement of a neighbour's missing downspout.

The piping, which carries rainwater away from the terrace houses' guttering, had been removed and blocked up during renovation of the property.

A resident in one of the end terraces had then complained to environ-mental health that all the rainwater was flowing towards her downspout and damaging her outside wall.

Despite the fact that all the houses are privately owned the council told the residents they were jointly responsible for carrying out the work as the drainpipe served their houses too.

Kevin Savage, who led the residents' fight against the notices, said: "We were told we would have to pay for work on someone else's house which we didn't think was fair at all, so we decided to take the council on.

"I was in a similar situation a few years ago and I was told to claim off my insurance so we knew we had a chance of getting the notices over-turned."

Mr Savage, who is a full time carer for his 22-year-old autistic daughter, continued: "We are all on limited funds and were told that the job was going to cost at least £300. Our only choice was to represent ourselves."

Addressing Hyndburn Magistrates' Court, senior environmental health officer Alan Murray said downspouts were usually put on every third or fourth property on terrace houses.

Gordon McMillan, for Hyndburn Council, said the neighbours were respon-sible for replacing the downspout because they all benefited from its usage.

But magistrates decided that building legislation did not implicate those who did not own the missing downspout and that they should not be held responsible for the fact that the pipe had been removed Speaking after the court case, Mr Savage said: "It was a matter of principle. I am delighted by the result."

The owner of the property with the blocked pipe did not appeal the notice and will now be responsible for the repairs.