MOW RESPECT
Inconsiderate neighbours were yesterday (sun) warned that 9.25am is the earliest when it is acceptable to get the mower or hedge-trimmer out on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
Dubbed ‘noise o’clock’, a study revealed eight out of ten people are driven mad by selfish neighbours who shatter tranquil mornings by firing up lawnmowers and hedge trimmers while everyone else is still in bed.
Incredibly, one in ten people didn’t think it was acceptable to crank up noisy electrical garden tools before 11am.
And a similar number have been so incensed after being woken up by neighbours cutting hedges or mowing lawns, they have confronted them while still in their pyjamas.
It also emerged 11 per cent have wreaked revenge by deliberately starting up their own mower or sending their kids into the garden before 9am.
Most also said being a ‘quiet neighbour’ makes a you ‘good neighbour’, the survey of 3,000 people found.
Andrew Whitehead, B&Q garden power buyer, said: ”It is reasonable to expect neighbours to keep the noise down early in the morning and late at night and some of today’s modern mowers really are a mere whisper compared to old fashioned machines.
”No-one wants to be rudely woken on a peaceful bank holiday by people hammering, mowing or strimming.
”Unfortunately not everyone is so considerate, and this is usually when neighbours fall out.  While some people think that it’s normal to be out in the garden tidying up at 7am, others may think that’s a bit early to fire up the garden power tools.
”If in doubt about whether or not it’s too early we’d caution people to have a cup of tea and spend some time in the garden on quieter tasks such as weeding and planting out.”
The study also revealed the top ten most annoying things about neighbours – with loud DIY tasks such as sawing, cutting, drilling and hammering making one in three see red.
A further 29 per cent can’t stand to hear their neighbours talking loudly beneath their windows and 23 per cent hate the sound of revving motorbikes.
Mowing the lawn annoys 18 per cent of people if it is done early in the morning or after 8:20pm and one fifth get stressed if neighbours have noisy friends over.
Other irritations include lighting bonfires (13 per cent) and neighbours singing at the top of their voices (16 per cent).
When it comes to children playing outside – 82 per cent of people think those who have kids forget not everyone has to get up so early.
And as well as being let into the garden at a reasonable time in the morning, respondents reckoned kids should be made to go to bed by 8:15pm.
Four in ten said a neighbour’s children annoyed them with the noise they made in the garden, regardless of what time of day it was.
B&Q spokesman Andrew Whitehead added: ”The majority of people live in close proximity to their neighbours and this research shows that it’s vital to think before you mow.
”And if you really do need to get out into the garden and get mowing at the crack of dawn then choose one of our mowers which includes ‘mute technology’ to help reduce the noise.”
ANNOYING THINGS NEIGHBOURS DO:
1.    DIY tasks, sawing, cutting, drilling and hammering
2.    Talking loudly
3.    Revving motorbike engines
4.    Having friends round
5.    Mowing the lawn
6.    Singing loudly
7.    Lighting bonfires
8.    Strimming
9.    Starting the car early in the morning
10.    Lighting up BBQs
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com