The door slams on good neighbours

An average of one in five of those questioned for a survey felt they could not rely on their neighbours in an emergency.

Eight in ten thought their parents' generation placed a greater emphasis on caring for the local community and 16 per cent did not know the names of those living next door.

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The investigation into neighbourly actions revealed a declining focus on community spirit.

Fewer than one in ten Britons regularly visits a neighbour and 40 per cent say their neighbour has never called on them.

The research findings, from power firm EDF Energy, support its annual Safe, Warm

and Well campaign in partnership with WRVS, the charity which helps older people.

The initiative encourages people to help vulnerable neighbours avoid some of winter's dangers, including hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The findings reveal discrepancies across the UK.

Almost one in three Londoners, 30.3 per cent, feel they do not have a neighbour they can rely upon in an emergency.

In Northern Ireland, however, the figure is just 11.1 per cent.

The investigation also revealed worrying levels of awareness surrounding hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, which can result from a faulty central heating boiler.

Four in ten of the 1,600 people questioned did not know how to identify an incident of carbon monoxide poisoning while 16 per cent could not recognise symptoms of hypothermia.

Dr Margaret Samuel, chief medical officer at EDF Energy, said: "Knowing how to identify the symptoms of hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, and what to do if they arise, is half the battle in helping to reduce the effects amongst the most susceptible this winter."

Campaign ambassador Gloria Hunniford added: "We all know someone who could benefit from a helping hand in the colder months.

"It's easy to make excuses or to think that they wouldn't want us bothering them.

"But it's up to us to rally together and look out for each other this winter."