A pressure group has welcomed the Government's moves to clamp down on noisy neighbours.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher announced plans to make it easier for councils to prosecute people causing a nuisance and to confiscate items such as stereos.

The Brighton-based National Society for Clean Air (NSCA) has campaigned for years for tougher policies on noise.

Nationwide, there are 118,000 complaints to authorities about noise each year, with a high proportion stemming from late-night parties.

The new rules will enable councils to provide a more practical anti-noise service.

NSCA general secretary Richard Mills backed the plans.

He said: "Noise has been the forgotten pollutant.

"We welcome Government moves towards a policy but the announcements offer little immediate relief for noise sufferers across the country."

This year, Brighton and Hove City Council successfully prosecuted one person for noise pollution.

A council spokeswoman said most cases were dealt with by simply asking people to turn their music down.

She said: "We have a noise patrol that goes out on Friday and Saturday nights and is available if people ring in to tell us about noisy parties.

"They will generally visit the address and nine times out of ten people turn music down.

"For other noise nuisances, the procedure would be to contact the environmental health department.

"People can be prosecuted but things are usually sorted out before that stage."