FEUDING neighbours have run up thousands of pounds in legal fees in an eight-year dispute involving a ten-inch strip of land between their homes.

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 one accused the other of placing a bag of sand and rubbish on their land.

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 was whose.

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 it still hasn't been built because legal documentation relating to the matter has still to be completed.

Police have confirmed they have been called twice by Mrs Dewhurst to try and sort out the row but refused to get involved, saying it was a civil matter.

The couple were on friendly terms when Mr Baron moved a fence at the front of the houses nearer to his property when it needed to be repaired in 1988, making it easier for his neighbour to get her car into her drive.

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 around three feet of land.

Widow Joan Dewhurst, 79, said: "We went to court two years ago in September over the boundary line.

"I agreed I would give Mr and Mrs Baron ten inches of my land to get a quick settlement.

"I was also ordered to build a fence to prevent my land slipping against his garage but I have never seen anything with his signature on saying he was willing to have the work done."

Mrs Baron, who admitted the couple had run up costly legal bills, said: "Her land was collapsing onto our garage but it is down to her to start building a fence.

"On the two occasions we have been given the revised deeds to sign we were told they were incorrect, so we couldn't sign."

Mr Baron said: "We were trying to help her by giving her more room to manoeuvre her car but realised we had made a huge mistake in doing her a favour.

"This could have been resolved with a couple of quid but instead it has escalated into a full row.

"The stress is all day every day and we just can't wait for it to be over then we can start getting some sleep."

Mrs Dewhurst said: "I cannot even open the blind to my kitchen. We never even speak and I try and ignore them but sometimes I really have to pluck up the courage to leave the house."

"I am expecting to to have to pay £15,000 and I have no privacy whatsoever.

"They don't realise they have got a really kind neighbour. I feel sick inside."

A spokesman for Blackburn County Court confirmed there had been a civil land dispute and said: "There is nothing on the court file to suggest this matter has been settled."

A spokesman for Blackburn police said: "We have been up to these addresses, the latest occasion being April 4, but we view the dispute as a civil matter."