A couple who were sued after they failed to tell a housebuyer of their noisy neighbour said last night they never intended to mislead the new owner.

Colin and Gladys King had to pay compensation to Tony Pemberton following a hearing at York County Court.

The Kings signed a form saying they had no problems with the neighbours in Foxwood Lane, York.

But Mr Pemberton discovered they had made several complaints against one neighbour, a council tenant, who was evicted in January this year.

The Kings said there had never been any intention of hiding the problems from Mr Pemberton.

The couple ticked the No box on a legal form that asked if there had been any problems with their neighbours.

But they said they had been confused by what the question referred to, and they had never intended to keep their neighbour's behaviour a secret.

Mr King, 57, said the council could have done more to help their plight.

He said: "We have been made responsible for other people's behaviour. That is not right.

"I feel let down by York City Council. They just issue anti-social behaviour orders and allow them (tenants) to carry on as normal.

"The council knew about this woman for a long time. In two years' time she could be back in another house, causing the same problems.

"We had lived in that house for 20 years quite peacefully. This could happen to anybody."

Mr King said he told Mr Pemberton about the noisy neighbour when he came to view the £59,000 house.

"I told him verbally that we had got a problem with the neighbour. He came to the house and spent 15 minutes here."

Following the case the Kings, who moved to another area of York, were made to pay an undisclosed amount to Mr Pemberton.

Mr Pemberton said that he was regularly disturbed by loud music, shouting and banging coming from next door.

Experts warned yesterday that the case should act as a warning to property sellers.

Hugh Dunsmore-Hardy, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, said: "Buyers who believe they have not had entirely truthful answers may now look to see if there is legal redress."

A spokeswoman for City of York Council said it took a strong stance on nuisance tenants.

"Eviction is only considered when all other avenues have been exhausted and where we can be confident we can make a case in court," she said