Gone are the days when neighbours gossiped over the garden fence.

Social networking has, in some ways, taken care of that, along with busy lifestyles. Many communities have become commuter areas but despite this change in tradition it seems people still love thy neighbour – especially in Yorkshire!

A survey, carried out as part of Swinton Insurance’s Great Britain’s Greatest Neighbour campaign, found that residents of Yorkshire like their neighbours more than any other part of the country.

Of those surveyed, 84.9 per cent said they would call their neighbour in an emergency – second only to Scotland in all the regions surveyed, while 88.3 per cent recognised the importance of getting on with their neighbours.

Bringing in wheelie bins for neighbours was the most popular way of helping and proved to be the highest neighbourly deed in the country, and barbecues were a great way for neighbours getting together.

Those who didn’t speak to some of their neighbours fell below the national average of 16.4 per cent, proving that Yorkshire is a friendly place to live.

Blocking driveways; parking in neighbour’s spaces; having an untidy garden; swearing and rowing were just some of the top 20 reasons for blanking neighbours.

Elizabeth Hellmich is the perfect example of a friendly neighbour. Elizabeth has lived in the village of Heaton, just a few miles from Bradford city centre, for more than 30 years.

Twelve years ago she set up the Safe Project in the aftermath of the Manningham riots to help people in local communities feel safe on their streets, and was awarded the MBE for her work in bringing people together.

“I have been here more than 30 years and we have seen some big changes on the street. It was really good when we moved here and now it’s absolutely brilliant,” says Elizabeth, referring to the neighbourly environment.

“There are different nationalities on the street and everybody gets along.”

Elizabeth believes being a good neighbour and getting along with those living close by is all about education.

“I think it is respect and education. If children are not taught respect from an early age it has gone for the rest of their life. A lot of that attitude is down to education.”

Tolerance is another neighbourly trait. “You have to be tolerant because not everybody lives the same. People like different things but just start off with a ‘hello’ or a smile and you will find it will build from that.”

Zena Mozil is officially a good neighbour, having won the category in last year’s Community Stars awards run by the Telegraph & Argus and Bradford Council to recognise the area’s unsung heroes.

The sprightly 85-year-old settled in Shipley after leaving her native Poland and Ukraine in 1947 and has worked tirelessly within the local community.

Until last year, Zena volunteered in the kitchen at the Polish Centre in Bradford and she regularly does shopping for her elderly housebound neighbour.

“Neighbours should live like a family,” says Zena.

She says being a good neighbour is being there to support people when they are in need. “If they are poorly or stuck for something, always help them out. That is the main thing,” she adds.

Steve Chelton, from Swinton, says: “The poll has shed light on how many feel about immediate and surrounding neighbours, this is why our campaign is centred around finding the greatest neighbours in our nation.

“Regardless of the day-to-day disagreements, it is important to try and keep good relationships with neighbours as you may be living next to them for some time and you never know when an emergency might occur.”

Speaking of the wider Great Britain’s Greatest Neighbour campaign, he added: “Our campaign encourages people to nominate those in their community who really do demonstrate the best of neighbourly spirit, as we are sure there are many out there who epitomise what it means to be a great neighbour in Britain today.

“Be it looking after the house during a holiday, watching next door’s kids, or someone who goes the extra mile to be an outstanding member of the community, we believe Britain has great neighbours and they deserve to be celebrated.

“That’s why we have started a Facebook campaign to find Great Britain’s Greatest Neighbour.”

For further information about the campaign, see the Swinton Facebook page at facebook.

com/SwintonInsurance.