STORIES of neighbours battling it out over that overgrown hedge or arguing about who owns the strip of turf at the end of the garden tend to hit the headlines. But it's the excellent day-to-day relationships of British neighbours that make our communities the safe and friendly places they are.

The 2004 Britain's Best Neighbour award, sponsored by Kleeneze, enables people to vote for neighbours that deserve to be recognized for their neighbourly spirit.

Last year's winner was Gary Peach of Birmingham, who won a family holiday of a lifetime worth £5,000, plus a further £1,000 for winning his regional category. Gary was nominated by his neighbour Janet Ternet for the support he gave her when her four-year-old daughter was diagnosed as severely autistic.

There are great prizes to be won for those nominating winners, as well as the winners themselves, including a reception at the House of Commons on Thursday 22 July 2004 for the national winner.

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised, please contact Kleeneze on 0870 333 6688 to request a nomination form or see www.kleeneze.net. Entries close on June 21.

So please don't miss this opportunity to nominate your neighbour. Together we can reward good neighbours and celebrate the community spirit that we know is alive and well in your community.

John Howell

Director

National Neighbourhood

Watch Association