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I’VE had a massive run-in with my brother-in-law, which is now splitting the family in two.

He says I owe him money. Recently my roof partially collapsed and I asked him to help me to mend it but the morning we were due to tackle the job, he texted in sick and I had to get my neighbour over instead.

A few days later, my cheeky brother-in-law rang me asking for some money!

He moaned that I should pay him at least £200 as “sick pay”. He said I should do the right thing or his family will suffer at Christmas.

I went bonkers and now he and my sister are refusing to visit our parents for Christmas lunch as usual. What on earth is going on?

JANE SAYS: It sounds as if your brother-in-law is panicking ahead of Christmas. He’s looked at his finances and cringed.

But surely, by threatening to boycott Christmas lunch at your parents’ house, he’s digging himself into an even deeper hole.

Try to get your sister on her own and reason with her. Explain that you of course feel sorry for them, but how can you pay him when he didn’t even turn up?

He’s not officially employed by you and you have your own bills to pay. If his pride has been hurt, or he’s made certain promises that he cannot fulfil, that’s very unfortunate but you are not his keeper.

Suggest that you meet on neutral ground, shake hands and put this behind you before it blows out of all proportion.

If he’s jealous or has other issues with you, let him air them.

This is really not worth falling out over.