Man accused of chasing neighbour with axe

A Gisborne man had to flee from an axe-wielding neighbour he had earlier asked to turn down loud music, police say.

Police said the man woke at 5.30am on Saturday to loud music from the home of his neighbour who was also yelling at the top of his lungs.

The man asked him to be quiet but was ignored.

Shortly afterwards, the man decided to leave the house with his wife and began to drive down his driveway.

He saw his neighbour at the end of it, holding what he first thought to be a gun.

He reversed back to the house and was allegedly chased by the neighbour with an axe down the driveway before making good his escape

A man was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon.

- NZPA