Peacock noise ruffling feathers

The peacocks are noisier during the mating season

The owners of a group of peacocks in Nottinghamshire have been warned to keep them quiet by their local council.

Newark and Sherwood District Council said it had received complaints about the noise from the birds.

Owner Gail Salmon, who lives on a farm near Farnsfield and has kept the birds for more than 30 years, said they might be forced to sell some of the birds.

The council has sent a letter to the family asking them to make changes to reduce the noise.

Eight years ago the district council had to remove birds living on their own grounds after they started attacking cars during breeding season.

It's the countryside - you hear birds and you get used to the sound

Rebecca Christian

The family hopes confining the birds will solve the problem, otherwise they may be forced to sell them.

Rebecca Christian, who lives on the farm, said: "We're looking at buying a shed but because it is the time of the year when they have their full feathers it is going to have to be a fairly big one - and a big run.

"It's the countryside - you hear birds and you get used to the sound."

The council said the noise is a nuisance and the family can confine the birds, remove them during the mating season or get rid of them.

Mrs Salmon said: "I am not going to deny that they are noisy but if people come out to the countryside they should not want to change it - they should come out and accept it as it is."