THEY say you should love your neighbour but millions of Britons are
locked in bitter disputes with the people next door, a study has
found.

Arguments over land boundaries and noise are the worst culprits when
it comes to falling out with the neighbours.

One in four has had a bust-up with someone living next door with other
grounds for complaint being loud music, car parking and pets.

Rows have also flared over bonfires, anti-social behaviour and building work.
Worryingly, when they are not arguing, half of UK adults barely know
those next door, with three in 10 admitting they would not recognise
their neighbours if they bumped into them away from home.

And four in 10 deliberately avoid their bad neighbours. We have a huge
loneliness epidemic in this country.

The research of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by housebuilder,
Churchill Retirement Living.

Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, an ambassador for Churchill, said: “We have a
huge loneliness epidemic in this country.

“And looking out for those next door to us can be a big step towards
curing it - especially if they are older people who might be feeling
isolated or not as active as they used to be.
“I have personally witnessed the benefits a strong sense of community
can bring, and we can all do something to make that difference to the
people who live around us.”

The study also found the average Briton knows six of their neighbours
by name - although this falls to just four among those aged 34 and
under.

A fifth say they have been concerned for their neighbours at some
point, with health problems, age and loneliness the most common
worries.

And half think there is a no sense of community in their neighbourhood.
Yet less than a third of people would ever consider inviting their
neighbours around for a meal or social gathering.