Campaigners are celebrating a ban on train operators from sounding loud horns when passing footpath crossings at night.

New legislation comes into force on Saturday which mean trains will no longer sound their horns when approaching whistle boards between 11pm and 7am.

During the day a quieter tone will be used.

The guidelines from the Rail Safety and Standards Board follow a year-long review and pressure from campaigners including South East MPs.

Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel, said he hoped it would bring respite to people living along the Arun Valley near Pulborough and North Heath and farther down the Arundel line at Warningcamp and Peppering.

Mr Herbert has met with John Armitt, chief executive of Network Rail, Chris Burchell, managing director of the rail firm Southern, and Tom Harris, Minister for Transport, to discuss the impact horns have on people's lives, especially during the summer months when people want to sleep with their windows open.

The MP said: "I welcome the implementation of the new guidelines and believe they are a step in the right direction.

"While the nighttime ban will not affect that many train services in our part of the world, I hope these measures will make some difference to those people who for too long have had to endure the invasive noise of train horns.

"If it does not, I will take this issue up with the train operators themselves.

"I will also continue to press for more progress on the review and, where safety permits, the removal of whistle boards."

The guidelines are part of a package of recommendations which include installing a lower minimum sound pressure for all new trains that travel up to 160kph or in older trains when horns are changed.

There should be an ongoing review of whistle boards and a look at possible new technologies.

A spokesman for Southern said: "These measures should ensure that people who live near lines where horns have been sounded routinely should find their environment a much more pleasant place to be between 11pm and 7am.

"Train drivers will now only use low level horn soundings when required at whistle boards or when there is danger on the track.

"Because horns will no longer be sounded at some crossings, people are advised to take extra care when crossing the line."