With more and more people falling prey to the nightmare of noisy neighbours, Epping Forest District Council has unleashed a new weapon in the war against the cacophonous culprits

Shocked by a massive 59 per cent increase in noise complaints since 1994, the council is launching a new noise call-out service designed to ensure that noise officers will be able to respond to residents' complaints immediately, even outside of normal office hours.

Complaint calls will be passed to a duty noise officer by an operator.

The new enforcement service team will also carry out spot checks on local pubs, clubs and restaurants to monitor the impact of entertainment on neighbouring properties.

Explaining the importance of the new system, team leader, Richard Gardiner, said: "Noise complaints are on the increase.

"Last year we received 1,039 noise complaints compared with 612 in 1993/4 and they make up 15 per cent of the total complaints received by officers in the environmental control group."

The call-out service operates between 5pm and midnight on weekdays and between 1pm and midnight at the weekend. Even outside these hours a restricted service is available for emergencies.

As well as tackling selfish neighbours, the enforcement service team is also targetting the problem of intruder alarms that go off for no reason.

If an alarm goes off and the keyholders to the building cannot be found, a locksmith and an electrician have to be hired to disable it. To help homeowners avoid the costs that entails, the team has issued the following advice.

You should make sure that you notify the police of two keyholders and make sure they are not away when you are. You should check that the alarm works properly even after a power cut. And you should install a cut-out device that will stop the alarm after 20 minutes.

For advice on noise issues call the council on 01992 564000 or write to environmental services, Epping Forest District Council, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping, CM16 4BZ.

Noise boys: Councillors Ron Heath, centre, and Derek Jacobs, second right, with members of the new enforcement services team.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.