PLUCKY Rosy Garnett wants to help other people follow in her footsteps and stand up to nuisance neighbours.

The resident of Bramham Road, Chapelfields, York, has taken the first step towards setting up an advice group to help people deal with "neighbours from hell".

Start-up funding will come from the £1,000 she was given by Prime Minister Tony Blair for taking a stand against her teenage neighbour, Nicola Brown.

Crime-fighting chiefs in the city have backed her plans, which will begin with a meeting of council officials, police and representatives from Safer York Partnership later this month.

Mrs Garnett, 38, was recognised by the Government after she gave evidence in court against the teenage terror who was responsible for two years of antisocial behaviour and intimidation.

She said: "It's taking a positive out of a negative. I've wanted to do this since I won the award. I wanted to put something back into the community.

"This group will support other people who suffer nuisance behaviour from their neighbours. I've got the 'equipment' to help them do that. I've been there myself.

"It will be a charitable group, although it is very much in the early stages. I've already had some very good feedback. This will be a first for York.

"Antisocial behaviour affects everyone in some way. I may start off with a pilot in a small area, perhaps one neighbourhood, and then expand it across the city."

Rosy's evidence in the nuisance neighbour case resulted in Ms Brown, 19, a council tenant, being evicted. Rosy contacted City of York Council and was asked to keep an incident diary of problems.

Last year a total of nine possession orders, like the one Rosy's evidence helped get, were obtained against nuisance tenants in York.

Carole Patrick, of Safer York Partnership, said: "It's very early stages, but we would heartily support communities addressing these kind of issues and supporting each other.

"Rosy played a vital role in changing her neighbourhood and is an excellent example to follow. We wish her success."

A city council spokesman said: "It's good to see Rosy making such good use of the funding from the Taking A Stand award.

"We applaud her for using this money for the benefit of her local community and supporting neighbours who are encountering antisocial behaviour."

Updated: 10:13 Saturday, June 18, 2005