`Monster' that sent neighbours to war.

LICENSEE John Barry and his wife Emily have been unable to resolve a dispute with their neighbours who have refused to cut back a row of leylandii for the best part of 15 years.

The couple,both 45, claim the 13 ft high plants are blocking light from the back garden of their semi- detached home in Lowther Avenue,Aintree and starving other plants in the area of vital nutrients.

Last night,Mr Barry told the Daily Post: ``We have been pinning our hopes on this legislation coming in because at the moment there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.

``It is affecting our quality oflife,not just because of the overshadowing,but the roots are almost as big as the trees and they are sucking up the nutrients.

``We don't want to force our neighbours to cut the trees down. We would just like them to trim them back to a reasonable height -say, six or seven feet, then they would still have their privacy.''

But neighbour Christine Hayes,44, said:``The trees were there when we moved in,and I want to keep them to protect our privacy. I think they are a reasonable height.''

The mother-of-two added: ``I don't let them grow monstrously tall, they are just high enough that I can just see the tops of the neighbour's upstairs windows.

``If I cut them back to six feet I'dbe looking right into their conservatory.''

The Barrys'local councillor,Labour planning committee member Jack Colbert said: ``These hedges are an absolute monstrosity,but the council's hands are tied.

``However,I'mnot sure the proposed new legislation is the answer because we have not budgeted for it.

``It would cost the council too much and that is why we have written to the Deputy Prime Minister, to ask for financial backing.''

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John Barry