NOISY students are creating sleepless nights for Worcester residents by playing loud music, slamming doors, shouting and screaming into the early hours of the morning.

The new autumn term began in mid-September and the City Council has already received six complaints about University of Worcester students from residents in St John’s.

One complaint made reference to noise coming from a house with 10 students living in it and another resident has complained about students playing loud music from speakers in the garden.

A University of Worcester spokesman confirmed six complaints have also been made about noise coming from the St John’s campus.

A man living in Hardwicke Close, who did not wish to be named, said one student house in the close has been causing mayhem with late night parties and loud music.

He said: “There are families with young children living around here and some people have to get up at 4am to go to work.

“It's just not on.

“We have spoken to the police, the council and the university about it and hopefully it will start to quieten down.

“I have lived here for 40 years and this is my castle. We all own our own homes around here and don’t need these sorts of problems.

“It’s the drinking which causes it, you only have to look at their bin to see it is overflowing with beer cans.”

Thousands of students across the country have had delays getting their loans which many residents believe is forcing students to stay at home drinking rather than going out to pubs and clubs.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) said the delay has been caused by a record number of applications coupled with technical problems.

John Ryan, registrar and secretary at the University of Worcester, said: “We work hard to ensure students living both in the community and on campus are respectful of their neighbours and take any incidents of noise disturbance or anti-social behaviour very seriously.

“The university has made it very clear to all its students that poor behaviour, including excessive noise, is not tolerated and that anyone breaking the rules will be subject to university disciplinary proceedings up to and including expulsion.”

Worcester Students’ Union runs an annual SSSH! (Silent Students Happy Homes) campaign, which encourages students to respect their surroundings and consider their neighbours.

Martin Gillies, environmental health manager at Worcester City Council, said noise complaints relating to students are investigated in the same way as other complaints.

Residents will be asked to fill in diary sheets for a couple of weeks to record the noise.

Council enforcement officers will then provide tape recording equipment to monitor the situation.

An enforcement notice could then be served which often results in stereos and other musical equipment being confiscated.