THEY are the best neighbours in the Bolton area.

And this week their helpfulness and good natured approach was officially recognised.

Colin and Tina Harrison, of Grasmere Avenue, Little Lever, have won the Bolton Evening News' Good Neighbour Award.

They were picked out from hundreds of entries and were nominated by their next-door-neighbours, John and Julie Greene, because of the help and support they have provided to them and their 15-year-old daughter Faye, who is autistic.

John Greene, aged 48, said: "You cannot put into words what they do. They are the best neighbours you could ever have, they are always there when you need them.

"We have been friends since they moved in 15 years ago and they have been there for us with anything we needed."

The Greenes' eldest daughter Emma, aged 20, said: "They always seem to say the right thing and do the right thing. Tina is always there if you are feeling a bit grim and she picks the right time to buy a bunch of flowers.

"If I need to speak to anybody or if I have had a bad day I will go to Tina. She's like a second mother. "

In their letter to the Bolton Evening News the family said: "We have a daughter who is autistic and in the past she would scream until all hours of the morning. Throughout this time they would support us, even though they were at the end of their tether."

"Colin is a handy man and he is always fixing things around the house. He is also a youth worker and is full of good advice for our children. He is a gem and nothing is too hard to fix, either mentally or physically."

Colin, aged 47, and Tina, aged 46, were treated to a civic reception by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Prentice Howarth, and won a £250 shopping spree, courtesy of the Market Hall. The Greene family also received a £50 voucher for nominating them. Colin said of the award: "It was quite a surprise but I'm chuffed about it. John has been a good friend to me over the years as well and sometimes, when I'm a bit low, he takes me out for a pint. So the award works both ways, but they beat me to it!"

Tina, who is a nurse, added: "I thought that John was playing a joke on me when he gave me the message to get in touch with the Bolton Evening News. I thought he was winding me up because it's the sort of thing he would do!"

The Mayor, said: "I think this award was an absolutely brilliant idea and what they have done for these people is what being a good neighbour is all about. There are a lot of people out there who need a good neighbour."