A MAN whose loud music had prompted complaints from his neighbours for almost a year has had his home raided by police and council staff.

Officers took away CD players and speakers from the council flat in Bishophill when they raided it yesterday afternoon.

Complaints about loud music making life a misery for neighbours had been coming in to City of York Council's neighbourhood enforcement team for 44 weeks, but the raid was prompted by a final complaint to the noise patrol officers on Saturday.

They went to the flats at around 10.45pm on Saturday, and found that music from The Prodigy to Lynyrd Skynyrd playing "so loudly the floor was vibrating", neighbourhood enforcement officer Craig Delorenzo said. A noise abatement notice had already been issued, he added, so by playing the music so loudly he was disturbing neighbours the man was breaking that notice.

Mr Delorenzo said: "It went well, he cooperated with us and I'm pleased we have prevented him from causing further nuisance to his neighbours."

Neighbours watched as the officers carried away music systems and speakers, and the evidence gathered will now be used to start legal proceedings, a council spokesman later confirmed.

The raid came during Noise Action Week, from May 23 to 28, and council leaders have urged other people to report noisy or nuisance neighbours.

Cllr David Carr, incoming leader of the council and executive member for safer neighbourhoods, said: “All local authorities must investigate noise nuisance and now our officers can also address excessive noise on the streets under new powers awarded to local authorities under the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act.”

In the last year the council has prosecuted one person whose heavy bass beats kept neighbours awake - leading to a £1,700 fine, he added. Meanwhile, the owner of a pair of yapping Jack Russells ended up with a £5,000 fine after officers found the dogs kept barking for four hours at a time.

Council officers can serve abatement notices for noise from premises, vehicles, equipment or machinery and if it can be shown to impact on someone’s quality of life. If that notice is breached, the culprit can be prosecuted and fined.

Noise from pubs, bars or businesses should be reported to 01904 551525 or on public.protection@york.gov.uk

People suffering from noise from other homes should contact the Neighbourhood Enforcement team on (01904) 551555 or on neo@york.gov.uk - there is a Friday and Saturday service from 9pm to 3am.