A NINE-YEAR battle over a 10-inch strip of land between two homes is finally reaching a concrete conclusion as building work on a dividing fence begins.

Joan Dewhurst and Edwin and Patricia Baron, of Hazel Grove, Blackburn, began rowing over the boundary line at the rear of their bungalows in 1994 after a squabble over a bag of sand.

They both said that the original estate surveyor's plans, drawn up in the 1950s, were unclear, meaning there was no conclusive evidence of whose land it was whose.

But after a civil battle that has cost thousands of pounds, a builder has now been enlisted by Mrs Dewhurst by order of the courts to separate the feuding neighbours once on the basis of an agreed boundary line.

The neighbours have not spoken to each other for several years and only communicate via their respective solicitors. An order issued by Blackburn County Court in September, 1999, ordered Mrs Dewhurst to erect a barrier between her back garden and her neighbours' garage in a bid to end the feud.

But during the drawn-out land war, police have also been called to the properties in a bid to resolve the tension, but refused to get involved, saying it was a civil matter.

The Baron family are relieved the work has begun, despite the expiration of a court deadline which stipulated the work should have been done last week.

Edwin said: "The work started last week but it has not ended yet. She intends erecting a galvanised corrugated structure along the side of her garage, dividing the two drives and a post and panel fence along the rest of the boundary, effectively giving three different types of fencing on one boundary.

"But we have not spoken for years and won't be speaking again." Mrs Dewhurst, 79, declined to comment.

The self-employed builder, who is a friend of both parties, declined to be named, but said it was a shame the dispute had become so 'upsetting' for both of them.

He said: "It has been a nasty litigation and a very costly one. Sometimes you just want to bang their heads together. Hopefully, they will be able to get on with lives."

"The work began but I have been delayed by the weather. It has all been dug out where necessary. There will be a fence that can be bolted to the floor at one part, rather than putting in post holes because of refused access on the Baron's side."

The couple were on friendly terms when Mr Baron moved a fence at the front of the houses when it needed to be repaired in 1988.

But in 1995 a section of Mrs Dewhurst's back garden collapsed into her neighbours' territory and they resorted to a legal battle over the boundary line, initially fighting over about three feet of land.

A court battle began three years ago over the boundary line when Mrs Dewhurst agreed to give Mr and Mrs Baron 10 inches of her land.

She was ordered to build a fence to prevent any land slipping against the Baron's garage.