Bleary-eyed families kept awake by maintenance work on a First Great Eastern rail line are desperate for a full night's sleep.

What an ear-bashing - Jennie Galgey, one of many residents in Hockley kept awake by rail maintenance work. Picture: MAXINE CLARKE DAC5M6

People living near the track in Hockley said "excessively loud" work began each morning at about 1am and continued for several hours.

Jennie Galgey, 32, of Broad Close, Hockley, said: "The noise was driving us mad. I wondered what the hell was going on the first night it happened.

"After about an hour, I got in my car and drove around to locate the noise. I was surprised to find it was coming from the track as we had not been notified by either First Great Eastern or Railtrack that maintenance work was due to take place."

A Railtrack spokeswoman confirmed track quality work had been carried out on a mile of line. She said: "We do apologise to residents about the noise but the work was necessary and could only be done at night when there were no trains. The work has now been finished."

Published Tuesday August 27, 2002

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