SOME of the region's best neighbours have been rewarded following a search to find the North-East's Neighbours From Heaven.

As an antidote to the all-too-familiar stories of neighbours from hell and anti-social behaviour, the competition invited people across the region to tell The Northern Echo about their most kind and helpful neighbours.

To reward the neighbours from heaven, they will be whisked away on board the King of Scandinavia Ferry for a weekend trip to Amsterdam.

The standard of entries for the annual competition, organised by The Northern Echo and the Postcode Lottery, was high - and the judges had difficulty in deciding the most deserving neighbours.

After much debate, the panel picked the winners, who were allowed to either take the prize themselves or give the trip to a friend or family member if they were unable to go.

June and Graham Moore, of Barnard Castle, were nominated by Don and Jean Hawes after they gave the couple the perfect welcome when they moved next door to them three-and-a half years ago after almost ten years of trouble with neighbours in Norfolk.

The couple had arranged for the chimney to be swept and the front drive to be cleared before the Hawes moved in. The Moores also regularly help out the whole street.

Brenda and John Wallace, of Darlington, nominated by Hilary and Kevin Cooper, were also chosen as winners for their kindness, generosity and support.

The Wallaces offered the Cooper family the use of their toilet and provided them with cups of tea when the family undertook a full-scale renovation project before they moved in.

Since then, despite a 30-year age gap between the couples, they have remained friends, with Mrs Wallace often babysitting and entertaining the Cooper's twin daughters.

The panel also thought Jai and Norma Krishnan, also of Darlington, deserved to be named Neighbours from Heaven.

Nominated by their neighbours of 20 years, Suzanne and Tony Knox, the couples have children of the same age and have regularly helped one another out with babysitting, school runs and now taking their sons to work.

The Krishnans allowed their neighbours the use of the kitchen when theirs was out of action because of building work.

Also chosen was Daphne Knox, of School Aycliffe, who helped out neighbour Elizabeth Bates when she fractured her ankle after a fall in January.

Mrs Knox did the shopping for her neighbour of 17 years as well as making her cups of tea and calling to check on her regularly.

The other winners were: Charlie and Pat Sargesson, of Cassop, nominated by Pauline Saiger; Valerie and Brian Philipson, of Crook, who were nominated by Ivan and Margaret Blakey; Mr and Mrs Willoughby, also of Crook, who were nominated by Vicky Crawford; Mrs Dawson, of Darlington, who was nominated by Mr PGB Peeke; and Joanna Baxter, of Ferryhill, nominated by Anne Jones