Noisy neighbour's £800 music fine

A woman is given an £800 fine for playing music too loudly after a court heard neighbours made 80 complaints.

Swansea Magistrates heard Claire Tippings of Llansamlet ignored council noise abatement notices.

Officers visited her home several times and witnessed the orders being breached and on one occasion seized a stereo.

Tippings did not attend court and the case was heard in her absence. Swansea Council said it hoped the fine would act as a warning to others.

Speaking after the hearing pollution control officer Huw Morgan said the council had a responsibility to ensure people were not disturbed by their neighbours.

"This particular case was instigated by a high volume of complaints by the public," he said.

"The individual was issued with a noise abatement notice which was breached several times.

"We had no other option than to proceed with a formal prosecution."

He said the council received around 4,000 complaints a year relating to noise pollution with loud music being the most common.

Others related to dogs barking, cars revving their engines and even noisy washing machines, added Mr Morgan.