'Partying' row over actress' home

Jane Seymour starred in Bond film Live and Let Die

Neighbours are going to court to try to curb alleged all-night parties held by people renting out the country home of actress Jane Seymour.

The former Bond girl, 56, has a 24-hour alcohol and entertainment licence to hold events at her Grade I-listed manor, St Catherine's Court, near Bath.

Neighbours said the licence was granted without consultation, and that parties caused noise and traffic problems.

Ms Seymour and her husband James Keach, 59, were not available for comment.

An appeal has been lodged by neighbours against the granting of a premises licence by Bath & North East Somerset Council to Ms Seymour and her husband.

A Bath & North East Somerset Council spokesman said: "This is a matter for the court to handle, we cannot comment further at this stage."

'No consultation'

The action will be heard in Wansdyke Magistrates' court on 14 August. Parish council chairman Ian Plaister said attempts to discuss the matter with Ms Seymour and Mr Keach had not been successful.

"What we are concerned about is the public nuisance because traffic is clogging up a road that is only eight-feet wide," said Mr Plaister.

Ms Seymour's property is rented out for private functions

"The anger and frustration about the way in which the owners have chosen to impose a commercial business on local people left us with no choice but legal action.

"There was no consultation on this licence which we would have expected," he said.

The licence was granted by the authority's licensing sub committee in May. The council said it had taken into account public safety and nuisance issues.

Concerns raised

It said a number of concerns raised by neighbours about planning and traffic were not relevant to the application.

Bath and North East Somerset Council planning officers are now investigating whether the property needs planning permission for change of use to operate commercially as a venue.

"The team has heard the concerns expressed by some residents and will be meeting with the chairman of the local residents' association on Friday," said a spokesman.

Ms Seymour, known for her performance in the Bond film Live And Let Die, bought St Catherine's Court for £350,000 in 1984 after shooting the television film Jamaica Inn.

She and her husband live there for three months of the year and rent out the property for private functions.