AN INNOVATIVE help group for residents whose lives are blighted by neighbours from hell will be piloted in two York areas.

People in the Foxwood and Cornlands estates will be among the first to benefit from a one-to-one support and advice group headed by Rosy Garnett.

Mrs Garnett, 38, will use £1,000 of Whitehall cash that she was awarded for taking a stand against her own nuisance neighbour in nearby Chapelfields to start the project. A group of community workers, including representatives from the police, city council and residents' representatives has been brought together to turn her vision into reality.

Mrs Garnett said she hoped to be sharing her own knowledge and experiences with other people within months, once the new body was formally unveiled.

Members were now looking at other sources of funding, including a lottery bid and grants from the local authority.

She said: "I was lucky. I had excellent support from the council and others, but I didn't really have the support from the neighbours around me and I want to change that for others.

"There are people who can benefit from having extra support. Nobody should have to put up with antisocial behaviour. If I'm there for them, it might just help keep them on track."

PC Alison Newbould, York Police's antisocial behaviour co-ordinator, said the group could support victims and witnesses as the authorities prepared to bring alleged troublemakers before the courts.

She said: "We have to focus on the witnesses and keep them engaged and support them through their ordeal from beginning to end."

Jean Shepherd, vice-chairwoman of Foxwood residents' association, said: "I've been among neighbour nuisance. It does help to have someone to talk to."

Karen Shaw, of Crime Concern, a charity working to reduce crime nationwide, said: "We need to start in a small, manageable way before branching out across the city."

Westfield ward councillor Sue Galloway said the pilot would focus on Foxwood and Cornlands because they were small, suitable areas, not because they had more problems than other places.

Updated: 08:51 Monday, July 04, 2005