A driving instructor who bought two dogs to protect her home from burglars has been fined because they barked too loudly.

Neighbours of single mother Deborah Gething, 29, got fed up with the dogs' barking when she was out working.

Gething, of Martyrs Avenue, Langley Green, even tried fitting the dogs with special collars and returning home during the day to let them out into the garden.

But the problem continued and yesterday she pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the terms of a noise abatement notice. She was fined £100 with ordered to pay £50 costs.

Karen George, prosecuting for Crawley Borough Council, said complaints about the dogs began in February 2001 and continued throughout the year.

She said: "In November, sound measuring equipment was installed in a neighbouring property.

"The equipment showed the levels recorded constituted a public nuisance.

"The complaints continued. The sound equipment was again used in February this year and once more the results proved a public nuisance was being committed."

Robert Beighton, defending, explained the dogs were acquired because the property Gething and her family moved into in 1999 had previously been burgled.

He said Gething's problems increased after she separated from her partner and had to look after the children and the dogs as well as continue in full-time work.

He said: "She loves the dogs and does not want them split up or rehomed as they have a special rapport with her children.

"Miss Gething is very remorseful and embarrassed and has decided to ultimately remedy the situation by moving away from the area."