Neighbour row erupts into £250k court battle over 'invasion' and 'systematic destruction' of land

They also claimed their neighbours "invaded" their garden in order to chop down a row of 33-foot tall Leylandii trees.

The couple told Central London County Court their privacy was ruined after the screen of conifer trees was cut down.

The civil construction manager insisted that because the trees were on his land, his neighbours had no right to remove.

However, their neighbour, Foulla Bowler, and her two siblings who also own the next-door property, claimed the trees were in fact on their property and they removed them due to "overshadowing" and the potential damage they could cause to a water course.

The McCarthys, who claim the stress of the dispute has severely affected their health, are suing for around £115,000 in compensation.

This sum includes an amount to replace the trees.

In addition to this, it is understood that their lawyers' bills alone are set to hit more than £130,000.

Mrs Bowler is counterclaiming for more than £50,000 for damage to fences and a shed caused by the row.

Judge Alan Saggerson was told that the McCarthys bought their home in 2001.

Mrs McCarthy, a carer, said that at the time it had an "immaculate, very pleasant garden" which bordered Mrs Bowler's home, known as Kormakitis.

Mrs Bowler previously lived in Kormakitis as a teenager, and now lives with her family in the property, which she co-owns with her two siblings John Barberis and Mary Englishby.

A row over the boundary between the two properties began in 2018, with both parties claiming the Leylandii trees were on their land.

Despite the ongoing dispute, Mrs Bowler applied for permission to fell 29 trees in 2018.

Then, in January 2022 most of the trees were cut down.

Barrister Christopher Coyle, for the McCarthys, said that this felling work continued for a second day despite the siblings receiving a request from their neighbours, via lawyers, to stop the work.

Both sides gave evidence in court, with Mrs Bowler's brother, Mr Barberis, claiming he helped to plant the trees with his father many years ago.

After a three-day trial, Judge Saggerson reserved his decision on the case for a later date.