A SCHEME to create a team of shuttle-diplomacy ambassadors to help solve neighbourhood disputes on Southampton's council estates will take off in the New Year.

The city council is planning to train volunteer residents in the finer points of mediation to help improve the quality of life on the estates - and follow in the footsteps of the world famous peace envoy.

A pilot service for tenants living on the west side of the city has proved so successful that now all council tenants will be offered the service.

Mediation Assessment Co-ordinator David Wheatley said the pilot scheme helped increase the quality of life for tenants, reduce crime and create a better feeling of community spirit.

He said: "We are delighted with the success of the pilot scheme and have had a really positive response from those tenants who have used the service so far.

"We are on target to achieve our number of 200 referrals in the first year and have so far worked with 159 different cases."

By stepping in early to help resolve disputes, the council hopes to reduce the cases when difficulties with neighbours turn into all-out war.

Mr Wheatley explained: "One such success story involved two tenants living in a block of flats who were in a dispute over groups of youths who visited one of the tenants for late-night, noisy parties.

"The two tenants had argued over the issue of noise and were verbally abusive to each other - their hostile behaviour was also having an adverse effect on the other residents along with their friends and families.

"The mediation service was suggested so that both parties could meet to help understand the others feelings.

After they were able to talk without arguing they agreed that both of them had reasonable points of view and agreed to communicate if there was a problem again."

Free training, which can lead to a nationally recognised qualification, is being offered to Southampton tenants.

Anyone who is interested should contact the Mediation Service on 8071 0101.