A MAN attacked his neighbour with a hammer and fired a large crossbow at his van after a row over an unpaid loan, a court heard.

John Higham, aged 50, denies the attack on his neighbour Anthony Fogg, which allegedly came after Higham agreed to lend him £1,000.

The pair had known each other for about a year and became friends after living in the same property in Holmeswood Road, Great Lever but in separate flats.

Mr Fogg, who moved into the flat in February 2013, told Bolton Crown Court that he had experienced a period of ill health and had fallen on hard times financially, and had asked Higham if he could borrow some money.

The court heard they agreed a repayment schedule of about £130 a month, and that they set out a contract to make the agreement official.

The arrangement was amicable at first, but Mr Fogg told the court that Higham became "more aggressive" when Mr Fogg told Higham he could not afford the payment one month, after already paying back about £700.

Mr Fogg said that he would frequently receive abuse from him when leaving the house for work.

But the court was told that this came to a head on March 26 last year, when Mr Fogg was leaving his flat for work at about 7.40am.

He told the court that Higham was waiting for him with a hammer, which he proceeded to swing at him, hitting him once in the lower back.

Mr Fogg tried to run away from Higham, who began to chase him through the back garden, before successfully evading him and reaching his work van.

Higham returned to his house — but then later returned with a crossbow and fired it at his neighbour's van.

Mr Fogg told the court: "I thought I would be seriously injured or that I would not be here anymore."

Higham, of Holmeswood Road, denies causing actual bodily harm, possessing an offensive weapon, namely a hammer, threatening behaviour in possession of a crossbow, and damaging the van.

The trial continues.