Fun park reduces noise nuisance

The park's owner is to appeal against in July

Steps to reduce noise at Alton Towers have come into force - after the theme park was fined for being too loud.

Staff at the attraction in Staffordshire have fitted limiters to loudspeakers to keep the volume down.

The theme park says the measure should have no real impact on the experience of visitors.

The park's owners were served with a noise abatement notice and fined £5,000 in November 2004 after a court upheld complaints from a local couple.

Stephen and Suzanne Roper brought a private prosecution against the park.

The couple, who live 100 yards from the theme park, had claimed noises from the ride and screaming had made their lives a "nightmare".

Tussauds Theme Parks, who own Alton Towers, are due to appeal against the notice in July.

The group is currently being sold off together with a number of theme parks to a company in Dubai for £800m ($1.5bn).