A mother who drove her neighbours to distraction by singing along to a karaoke machine admitted breaching a noise abatement order.

Kim Ridgway, 40, of Old School Lane, Polegate, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Magistrates ruled she should not be given back her £80 karaoke machine, confiscated by council officers, on which she sang hits by Bryan Adams, Blondie, Bon Jovi and chart-toppers Steps.

Wealden District Council issued a noise abatement notice in April, and confiscated the karaoke machine.

Mrs Ridgway admitted breaking the ban and playing music while her patio doors were open in September.

After the verdict at Eastbourne Magistrates Court yesterday she said: "I'll still be doing karaoke in the pub. They won't stop me that easily. I just think this is a lot of rubbish, caused by one neighbour."

She refused to use a solicitor, defended herself in court, and showed the magistrates a 60-signature petition from neighbours who thought she was being treated unfairly.

A character witness provided a written statement saying she used the machine to help children learn how to sing and had never offended anybody.

Mrs Ridgway told the court: "I have asked the other neighbours if they have heard noise and they have all said no.

"No other neighbours complained. It is something like a vendetta from one neighbour."

Wealden District Council solicitor Geoff Johnson said the noise problems had started early last year and there had been several complaints up until November.

The council asked for Mrs Ridgway to be made to pay costs of £490 but because she had entered an early guilty plea the magistrates cut this to £200.

Court chairman Roland Ridley said: "I think the council acted quite rightly in this matter. They have repeatedly contacted you about the noise."

Magistrates heard Mrs Ridgway was on income support and had a 13-year-old son with mobility problems who was due to go for a major operation next week.

They ordered the court costs to be taken from her benefits at a rate she could afford.

After the hearing, Mrs Ridgway said the row over noise had made her miserable and stopped her enjoying her home.

She said: "I can't even vacuum in the summer with the windows open. It's doing my head in."

She wanted to move out of the three-bedroom house where she had lived for six years but it was difficult to find another property her disabled son could live in.

Neighbour Rosemary Freeman has repeatedly complained about noise from Mrs Ridgway's house.

She said she was disappointed at the court's decision: "The noise is still going on, even last night. She's banging doors and windows, throwing furniture around, playing music and squawking to music - I wouldn't call it singing."

She said the noise carried on through the night and she had not been able to sleep.

Her husband John, who uses a machine to breathe at night, says he has suffered worsening health because the machine only works when he is asleep.

The couple are considering a civil action against Mrs Ridgway and have asked to be rehoused.

Mrs Freeman said: "The council has got to get a proper noise abatement team who are not always busy doing other things."