You've heard of the neighbours from hell - now meet the neighbours from heaven!

That's the title bestowed by pensioner Mary Lowe on people living near her in Kent Avenue, Canvey.

Mary, 75, lavished praise on each of her neighbours and urged us to highlight their good deeds.

She said: "I have two or three lovely neighbours. There's so much in the papers about bad neighbours but mine really are neighbours from heaven.

"The couple behind my place are very friendly and helpful and everyone gets on so well around here."

Mary, who has had a number of poetry books published, said her neighbour across the road, Sally Brown, had helped transform her garden.

She said: "Years ago my garden was on television, but it fell into ruin as I developed arthritis.

"But Sally pops over regularly and she has transformed it into a picture.

"It's marvellous - the pond is wonderful again and there are hanging baskets. I feel I have the best garden on the island. I can't thank her enough."

Sally Brown, 62, was modest about her neighbourly nature.

She said: "It's just pottering about really. I knew Mary was interested in gardening and had seen her working quite a lot. But she was getting frustrated because of her arthritis and couldn't do as much.

"I do it as it gives me something to do and I enjoy it. I only keep it tidy.

"I think this is a good neighbourhood. It's one of the first things you worry about when you move into a new area.

"I don't think I'm doing anything special. We all help each other out around here, like neighbours should."

Last year Castle Point was named the sixth friendliest place in the country following a national survey.

Great job Sally - Mary Lowe in her garden with the neighbour who tends it for her, Sally Brown

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.