NEIGHBOURS locked in disputes have been urged to get in touch with Bolton's mediation service to avoid the risk of being kicked out of their council homes.

Workers at Bolton Neighbour Dispute Service (BNDS) have been saddened by a series of cases which have deteriorated so badly that tenants have been evicted.

In the latest case, single mum Diane Woolham was evicted from her council house in Hollin Acre, Westhoughton, earlier this month.

And they have pointed to a host of success stories where problems have been solved without any need for legal action.

Ninety per cent of cases BNDS has dealt since it set up four years ago have been successfully resolved.

A BNDS spokesman said: "If a situation is allowed to develop too far then the result can be broken hearts and broken homes - as we have seen recently highlighted in the BEN."

He added: "It is at the early stages of a dispute that the service can be so beneficial."

More than 40 volunteer mediators trained in shuttle diplomacy are on hand to speak to neighbours caught up in a dispute whether the case involves noise nuisance or a personal feud.

The spokesman added: "The fact that people are persuaded to meet does mean that they are willing to arrive at some sensible conclusion to their problem.

"So, mediation without violence or recourse to the law is the key to solving neighbour disputes."

One neighbour who had a case successfully resolved said

: "I feel the mediators were friendly and genuine people and not judgemental at all. They got my neighbour and I together on their first visit and problems have now been discussed. Since then, my neighbour has not banged on my ceiling once."

The service can be contacted on Bolton 660141.

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