If Readers have a problem with a noise nuisance, they can call Brighton and Hove City Council for help.

If the noise is deemed a statutory noise nuisance, the council can take action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

This enables it to serve an abatement notice to the offender, requiring the noise to be stopped, prosecute the offender, with possible fines of up to £5,000 for domestic offenders or £20,000 for commercial offenders, or it can take default action to seize the noise-making equipment.

The council also operates a weekend noise-patrol service. For more information on the council's noise prevention services, call 01273 290000 or 01273 292424.

If we put our collective feet down over noise nuisances (irrespective of who is causing it), the message might start to get through that it will not be tolerated.

-Lynne Nicholls, Brighton