A FAMILY feud has left four sisters facing financial ruin after years of fighting over their mother's house.

The row between the daughters of Olive Corner, who died in November 1998, has divided the once-close siblings.

They are arguing over the division of their 83-year-old mother's former terrace home in Sunderland.

Three of the sisters claim that the house, now worth £18,000, should have been sold earlier when average house prices for the area were about £30,000.

But each of the four sisters has run up huge solicitors' bills, believed to total almost the price of the house.

Marilyn Towers, 55, of Sunderland, Marlene Crawford, 63, of Durham, and Lalene Murphy, 61, of Cleveland, are in conflict with their sister Shirley Welsh, 62, over the division of the house.

They claim a professional valuation has priced the house at about £18,000 after standing empty for two years.

Each says the feud has left them unable to properly grieve for their mother.

Mrs Welsh said her mother's ashes were still on top of her television, contrary to her wishes to be buried next to her second husband.

Because the sisters have been unable to reach agreement, their case has been referred to the Public Trust Office, in London.

The women say that everything will be sold at auction.

They will be allowed to keep one or two mementoes.

The furniture and the house will then go under the hammer.