Neighbours' titanic noise battle

The Wright family say they are being "tortured" by the sound of Celine Dion

A titanic argument has broken out between two neighbouring families over noisy renditions of a classic hit song by superstar Celine Dion.

Joe and Elaine Wright won a noise abatement notice against their next door neighbours after claiming they were forced to endure sleepless nights listening to the theme music from the blockbuster film Titanic wafting through their wall.

The Wright family, of Peasholm Crescent, Scarborough, said the noise from Clive Haviland's children amounted to "musical torture" and forced them to put their house up for sale.

But Mr Haviland claims his family is being victimised and is now appealing against the noise order.

Mr Haviland said that one of his daughters is learning to play My Heart Will Go On, which reached number one in the charts in 1998, on the piano.

This whole affair has just left us miffed Clive Haviland

But he insists he has no idea why his family could face criminal prosecution and a fine of up to £20,000 if they break the order.

He said: "They [the council] just slapped this order on us with no warning whatsoever.

"We are appealing, but are still waiting to see what the evidence against us was in the first place.

"Our daughter is learning the theme tune from Titanic, along with a number of other Celine Dion songs, and has to practise her music at some time.

"We are a musical family, but this whole affair has just left us miffed because we only play our instruments at reasonable times in the day."

A spokesman for Scarborough Borough Council said the noise abatement notice was issued following an investigation by environmental health officials.

Mr and Mrs Wright were unavailable for comment.

Mr Haviland is appealing against the order on the grounds that he was not informed of the original court date.

The case is due to be heard within the next few weeks.