NOISY neighbours in Worcestershire face a new crackdown under plans to make it easier for local authorities to launch prosecutions.

The Government has unveiled proposals to simplify the much-criticised Noise Act of 1996, to increase the number of offenders taken to court.

Under the act, local councils must set up 24-hour noise patrols before they are able to use the legislation to prosecute nuisance neighbours.

But the cost of round-the-clock wardens has meant only 14 authorities have adopted the act in the five years since it was introduced.

Now, the Government will allow the legislation to be used, even if the councils only set up patrols for a small number of hours.

It will be up to councillors to decide but Martin Gillies, Worcester City Council's principal environmental health officer, does not think there is enough of a problem.

"We tried out the wardens about five years ago, but the number of complaints did not warrant the amount of money spent on it," he said.

"Although the number of noise complaints have gone up since then we still don't think it's enough to have round-the-clock wardens but it's up to councillors to decide.

"If people are suffering from noisy neighbours we would recommend they record the incidents in a diary which we can use as evidence if we need to bring a prosecution.

"It doesn't usually come down to one incident but an ongoing disturbance. In these cases we can go in go in and seize equipment and take action."

Said Environment Minister Michael Meacher: "We will aim to ensure the authorities can use the Act fully by seeking an amendment which will mean they don't have to formally adopt it and commit such large resources to the problem."

Mr Meacher said the changes did not necessarily mean that the government wanted more noisy neighbour rows to end up in court.