THIS is the massive haul of stereos, TVs and other electrical equipment council bosses have seized from nightmare neighbours across York.

As reported in The Press yesterday, complaints about noise nuisance have doubled in the past year, as more and more city residents put up with loud louts.

City of York Council imposes a noise abatement order once a week on average, and anyone who breaches their order can have their noise-producing equipment seized.

This picture shows some of the devices confiscated from nuisance neighbours, as the council clamps down on the trouble-makers.

Mike Southcombe, the council's environment protection manager, said confiscation of property including stereos, TVs and game consoles was a last resort.

He said: "We have got procedures. We are not cowboys breaking into people's properties but it is a serious set to take because we are taking people's things and breaking into their homes.

"But these people have ignored notices we have sent them, they have ignored a legal notice and we have warned them and they carry on being a nuisance to their neighbours. They leave us no alternative."

He said: "It certainly offers relief to those people affected by noise nuisance. You are talking about hundreds if not thousands of people who are affected by nuisance neighbours and by us using our legal powers we can improve people's quality of life."

Using the Freedom of Information Act, The Press obtained details of all noise complaints in York over the past two years, and showed that the problem had doubled over the past 12 months.

From January 1 to November 29 this year, there were 2,028 complaints - equivalent to more than six a day.

The corresponding figure last year was 1,079 - little more than three a day.

Mr Southcombe said the increase had been caused by late-night drinking laws, more referrals from police, the introduction of the weekend night-time noise patrols, and the hot summer.

The figures showed that noise pollution was worst during June and July, when the World Cup was on, with 257 and 325 complaints received in those months respectively.

Andrew Waller, the council's executive member for neighbourhood services, said: "The council takes very seriously the complaints that late-night licensing is causing a disturbance, and with the noise patrol we are able to get out on Friday and Saturday evenings at the time when the noise is happening.

"There is a much more proactive stance that the council is taking, and I suspect that's why the figures have gone up."