A SMALL driveway has ended a 45-year friendship and started a bitter argument between two elderly families in the village of Turville.

Mrs Plint, of Barn Cottage, and Eva and George Braun, of Gena Cottage, both claim that a previously shared driveway is theirs.

The dispute marks the end of a long friendship which saw Mr Braun and the late Mr Plint building the driveway together.

Now the Brauns are moving out of the area, the question of ownership has reared its head.

Mrs Plint says that the land is hers and that she has the documents to prove it.

She said: "When I bought the house part of the contract was that I would be given access to the road, which involved building a small driveway. At the time the Brauns were tenants in their cottage and did not own the part of the garden which was made into the driveway.

"I paid for the house and the land but allowed the Brauns to use the driveway to get to their garage which is their property.

"But I do not want the new owners of the house to use the drive."

Meanwhile, the Brauns claim that the land is theirs but they allowed the Plints to use the driveway.

They have put up a poster claiming that Mrs Plint's decision has led to a decrease of £20,000 in the value of their house because even though the new owners will own the garage they will not be able to access it.

Mrs Braun said "We have had to accept a much lower offer for our house than we expected because of Mrs Plint's decision.

"Because of health reasons we have got to move into a bungalow near my son in Chinnor.

"But I am angry because for years I have looked after Mrs Plint's property while she went on holiday and have never asked for any payment for it.

"I was brought up to be neighbourly."

Mrs Plint said: "It is hard luck that the Brauns will not get an extra £20,000. If they had got it they would have been profiting from my land.

"I have not seen the poster they have put up because I am not interested.

"They can say what they like, but I know that I have proof of my ownership dating back to 1954."