Having good neighbours is a blessing - but bad ones can make your life a misery.

Nuisance neighbours can often get out of hand as issues stay unresolved and problems continue.

The most common types of problems between neighbours are noise-related, such as loud music or barking dogs.

Parking, issues with property boundaries, overgrowing trees and hedges and children playing in the street are also common points of conflict.

However, there is help at hand, as Staffordshire Police has issued some advice for those who cannot get along with those living next door.

If talking has not worked and problems with noise continue, people are advised to contact their borough or district council as they are not a police matter.

For disagreements over boundary walls, fences, trees or hedges, the police advise is to contact Citizens' Advice for free information and support. In some cases, residents may also want to contact a solicitor.

On the subject of neighbours' trees and hedges, neighbours can cut any branches or roots that cross over the boundary onto their property.

However, these cuttings still belong to the neighbour, so they should speak to them before disposing of them.

A landlord or housing association may be able to help those who living in a rented property or social housing and anyone worried about children playing in the street and posing a danger to those or others should call the police.

Residents should call police if a neighbour is being violent, abusive or threatening, harassing people, committing a crime, or "breaching the peace", which includes being "rowdy".

A police spokesman said: "Disagreements between neighbours, however small, can fester over time and do lasting damage to your relationships in the long term.

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"That's why we would always encourage you to raise your concerns with one another and find amicable solutions as early as possible.

"If you can't resolve a dispute with a neighbour it can have a serious effect on your quality of life, especially if it leads to you feeling threatened, isolated or scared in your own home or community.

"If this is the case, we would strongly advise you to take action.

"Our first advice is always to talk to your neighbour if possible and try to resolve the issue peacefully.

"If you have a difference of opinion, see if you can find a compromise that works for both of you, such as no loud music after 11pm.

"If you feel targeted or intimidated, if the problems have escalated or you've been threatened, verbally abused, or personally targeted please report the crime to us.

"We would rather hear from you, and find ways to help, than find out that you were suffering in silence."