A TEAM of specially trained negotiators has been set up to deal with the increasing problem of noisy neighbours in East Lancashire.

The Burnley-based mediation service aims to deal with disputes between neighbours before they get out of hand.

The new scheme has been launched by Specialist Mediation in Lancashire East (SMILE), which was set up two years ago. Bosses there say the problem of noisy neighbours is increasing all the time.

They have now issued a list of solutions to help minimise noise which have been published to coincide with the national Noise Action Day next Wednesday.

Joan Ainsworth, mediation support worker at SMILE, based in Smirthwaite Street, Burnley, said the idea behind the scheme was to get neighbours who had problems with noise to start looking for solutions.

The scheme has had 110 calls in the last two years with 47 directly related to noise, ranging from complaints about loud music to DIY and pets.

Mrs Ainsworth said: "We want to try to get people together in a room and to forget about what may have gone before and to look for ways to move forward. People may not even know their neighbour and it can be difficult to make contact if there is some animosity between them.

"It is all about being considerate towards each other as people can be brought to despair and breakdown because of noise."

The charity has a team of 20 trained mediators to deal with disputes between neighbours, two of whom visit each side before trying to offer solutions.

The mediation scheme has been welcomed by police who said it should help tackle the problem of noisy neighbours.

Sgt Martin Selway, of Burnley Police, said: "We fully support the mediation approach which aims to deal with disputes at a low level and before problems escalate into situations that can become violent and can result in people committing criminal acts and getting arrested."

Earlier this year mum Yolanda Hillman was threatened with eviction if she did not stop her three dogs barking at her home in Hareden Brook Close, Blackburn.

And last year noisy neighbour Michael Anthony Widdop, 30, was arrested after a confrontation with the man next door in Ramsgreave Road, Blackburn.

The town's magistrates heard that a spot of do-it-yourself had sparked a breach of the peace and Widdop was bound over in £100 to keep the peace for six months.

To contact SMILE call 01282 427100.