Jesmond students Frankie Eldred, Lucy Clarkson, Rebecca Trafford, Katie Lynn, Kelly MacDonald and Megan Forster have been named the March winners of a competition to find the household that has gone ‘above and beyond’ to be responsible and considerate neighbours.

The students were nominated by their neighbour Sarah Clarke, of Buston Terrace, who praised the six second-year students for their behaviour and said they had been “a joy to live next to.”

The ‘Best Neighbour on Campus’ competition is run by Newcastle and Northumbria universities.

“My husband and I moved here in September when the twins were just two-weeks-old,” said Sarah, mother to six-month-old Kipling and Scout.

“What these girls did really beautifully was they introduced themselves with a note when my husband and I moved in a few months ago.  They gave us all their names and numbers and said if they were being too noisy we could just text them and I felt like they were being really accountable.

“You expect students to make noise because obviously we want them to have a good time at university.  But by introducing themselves and being so considerate it meant that when they were noisy I didn’t mind.

“Since then they’ve been round for tea and baby cuddles a few times since, we take in each other’s missed parcels, they’ve brought us a bottle of wine and they are basically a joy to live next to. My only complaint is that they’re moving next summer and we’ll lose the best neighbours we’ve ever had.”

One of her neighbours, Megan Forster, a second year law student from Dungannon in Northern Ireland, said: “It’s just about being nice, speaking with your neighbours and doing small things, like dropping a card and introducing yourself. Generally being friends with your neighbours will make it nice for them to move into a student area, but it’s also nice for us.

“I’d like to thank Sarah and Jonny who are great neighbours and getting the baby cuddles has been the best thing for us.”

Kelly MacDonald, from Stratford-upon-Avon, who is a second year economics and finance student added: “We have a really nice relationship with our neighbours. It’s lovely to have won and we weren’t expecting it at all. I’d like to say thank you very much to Sarah for nominating us.”

The monthly competition’s judging panel includes local residents, local councillors and representatives from two universities.

More information and details of how to nominate, plus the terms and conditions of the competition, can be found on the awards website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/best-neighbour/