A 76-year-old man has been arrested after trying to run over his neighbour with a forklift, Miami police said.

The incident occurred on March 24 when the two men, who have scrap metal businesses next to each other, began arguing, a Florida Times-Union report said.

The suspect had taken his forklift to the victim's property and was removing old cars when confronted by the victim, police said.

The neighbour told police the man was removing cars that belonged to him and that he tried to run over him with the forklift before hitting him in the neck with a steel rod.

The man was charged with aggravated assault.