A STRIP of concrete between two luxury homes has become the unlikely subject of an epic legal battle between warring neighbours.

The path leads between the homes of former friends Bill Welsh and Dr David Carr on a North-East housing estate.

But a dispute over ownership of the 3ft-wide path, in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, turned into a fierce squabble which ended in Newcastle County Court.

A judge ruled that Dr Carr, who brought the case, was entitled to the narrow path.

And an injunction was granted to stop Mr Welsh setting foot on it, even though it is yards from his front door. Costs were awarded against Mr Welsh, a senior probation officer and could reach £60,000 - or about £1,000 per square foot of concrete.

He was also refused leave to appeal by the presiding judge.

The 14-month feud began when Mr Welsh and Dr Carr, an eminent geo-physicist, fell out over a fence erected alongside the path last year.

Both men claimed to have rights to the path and the rows between them led to the police being called on a number of occasions.

They still live side-by-side in £100,000 homes on the Moorside Estate in the city, but their friendship is long since at an end.

Father of three, Dr Carr, 50, said: "We are pleased with the way the court handled the case and that it is now over."

Mr Welsh said: "I cannot tell you the effect that this has had on my life. The case has taken over our lives for 14 months now.

"It has been neighbour against neighbour and it should never have been like that.

"Naturally the outcome was disappointing."