For almost 20 years they lived the happy, harmonious lives of storybook neighbours.

Arlene Brigden and Anthony and Alexandra Bradley would lend a helping hand, meet for drinks and visit each other's homes in Ovingdean, Brighton.

Then three years ago a boundary dispute sparked a row which finally ended in a bitter court battle after claims of harassment, threats and intimidation.

Mrs Brigden, of Longhill Road, complained that her next-door neighbours mounted a relentless campaign of harassment against her.

She said they swore at her and shouted abuse and insults.

One day, she said, Mr Bradley called her "the slapper of Ovingdean" and she replied: "If I am the slapper then you are the scum of Ovingdean."

When her close friend James Beaney visited he was also abused and taunted.

The Bradleys claimed they had been the victims and only acted as a result of provocation.

But after a four-day trial at Brighton Magistrates Court the Bradleys, who have been married for 40 years, were convicted of harassing Mrs Brigden and Mr Beaney between March 2002 and October last year, when they were arrested.

The court imposed a restraining order banning the couple, who have no previous convictions, from further acts of harassment for the next 12 months.

If they breach the order they could be jailed.

The order states there must be no obscene gestures or abusive words.

Mr Bradley, 63, a plumber and electrician, and his 59-year-old wife were ordered to pay £2,920 costs and were also given a 12-month conditional discharge.

District Judge Anne Arnold said she had been impressed by Mrs Brigden's evidence but criticised Mr Bradley.

She said: "He has lied to the court and his evidence cannot be relied upon or indeed believed.

"There is no escaping the fact Mrs Brigden's response has been to retaliate rather unwisely with unpleasant comments and behaviour."

The court heard the dispute flared in 2001 after the Bradleys started work on a garage and Mrs Brigden began work on an extension to her home.

The row soured the neighbours' relationship and ended with a county court hearing at which the Bradleys were awarded £1 compensation but Mrs Brigden was ordered to pay £5,000 towards their legal costs.

Mrs Brigden, a psychic healer, said around that time the couple's behaviour towards her changed. They started to shout abuse at her and at visitors to her home.

They made threatening and obscene gestures and spent time watching her through the windows of her home, which made her feel intimidated and uncomfortable.

She was so distressed by their behaviour she set up a video camera to film what went on.

The court was shown extracts from more than 30 hours of video tape.

Mrs Brigden told the court she was shaking every time she went out because she never knew if she would receive more abuse.

She said she only put up her camera after the Bradleys had set one up.

She said: "This is not a fight I have started. This is not tit-for-tat. I have been trying to stand up for myself. I want my life back."

Mr Beaney, from Seaford, said he was regularly called a "wimp".

He said Mr Bradley would make V-signs at him and a gesture with his finger across his throat.

Mr Bradley told the court he had only used obscene language when provoked by Mrs Brigden.

He accused Mrs Brigden of calling him a "Scottish git". His wife said she had been frightened of intimidation.

After the hearing, Mr Beaney said: "Justice has been done."

The Bradleys declined to comment. Their son Andrew said: "My parents feel let down by the police. It has been all one-sided."