The seven-year-long dispute between two households in east London, centred on a tap which has since been removed, “brings litigation into disrepute”, the parties were told.

Dr Jyotibala Patel and her husband Vasos Vassili say they were forced to sue their neighbour, pensioner Christel Naish, because her repeated complaints about the tap and pipe were impacting their ability to sell the property, The Telegraph reports.

Ms Naish alleged that she owned the gap between the two homes and the tap and pipe were “trespassing” on it.

Mayor’s and City of London Court sided with Dr Patel and her husband and ordered Ms Naish to pay 65 per cent of their legal costs.

However, Ms Naish is now appealing the ruling to the High Court in spite of warnings that the existing legal bill of £250,000 could easily double.

High Court judge Sir Anthony Mann responded with incredulity when he heard that the tap at the centre of the dispute was no longer there.

“It seems to me to be a ridiculous piece of litigation — on both sides,” he said.