Fish pond pump too loud

Mr Main has collected exotic fish for 10 years

A Tyneside exotic fish lover has been branded a nuisance neighbour because his ornamental pond was considered too noisy.

John Main, from Newcastle, has had a pond in his carefully tended garden for more than 10 years and built up an enviable stock of tropical fish.

But recently he had to replace the worn pump used to oxygenate the water with a newer model.

And the louder hum of the pump and the bubbling of the water was enough to shatter the peace around Mr Main's home in the Westerhope area of the city.

Having lived a peaceful life in his suburban semi for several years, Mr Main was surprised to hear he had become the subject of complaints from neighbours.

Newcastle City Council contacted him to warn he could face prosecution under noise abatement laws if he didn't silence his pump.

Mr Main, 45, who lives with his mother, Catherine, said: "I only found out that my fish pond was causing a problem when I received a letter from the council to say my pump was too noisy."

Mr Main, an offshore worker, built the pond in his garden 10 years ago and installed a pump so he could stock exotic fish.

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: "We received complaints about the noise and officers from the environmental health department went to investigate.

"In their view the complains were justified because the pump was making too much noise."

Now the council has asked Mr Main to replace the noisy pump with a quieter model.