Campaigners have called on MSPs to act to prevent "hedge rage".

They were at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, lobbying MSPs to create guidelines to prevent disputes between neighbours.

Campaign group Scothedge says it has 300 members directly affected by the problem.

It comes as the Government carries out a consultation, due to close in November, which could lead to legislation being created.

The subject of hedge height has been discussed on numerous occasions by MSPs, but so far, no arbitration procedure or new law has been created.

Currently, homeowners have no right to restrict the height of a neighbour's plants except to prune any overhang into their own garden.

However, campaigners argue that legislation passed in England and Wales in 2003 helps protect homeowners and say a similar framework should be adopted in Scotland.

Campaign leader Dr Colin Watson, from Edinburgh, said: "We have been fighting for years against the problem of 'vegetation tyranny' caused by high hedges in Scotland and the effect it can have on victims' lives.

"Although the majority of problems caused by high hedges are usually settled amicably, there are many instances where hedge owners refuse to do anything to resolve these issues in the knowledge that the law cannot challenge them."

He added: "There is also still a perception that this is a minor neighbour dispute problem, but this is not the case at all.

"It is a serious issue that, in the most extreme cases, can leave people living in terror from threats of violence and the need to involve the police and can severely reduce the value of a home and garden."

The campaign wants legislation that would establish a legal right for a neighbour to force an offending hedge owner to act, backed up by official guidelines and by a process of arbitration.