A COURT has slapped a £3,395 fine on a person who antagonised neighbours in Bridgwater by blasting out loud music.

The court has also ordered the destruction of all the music equipment.

Somerset Council's environmental health team swooped on the premises and seized the equipment in October following neighbours' complaints of disturbance.

The local authority's Environmental Health team have now successfully prosecuted the offender.

Somerset Council was granted a forfeiture order to enable it to destroy all seized equipment.

READ MORE: Music equipment seized in Bridgwater.

The occupant of the property had been warned to keep the noise down on several occasions.

But environmental health officers decided to take action using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 after those warnings were completely ignored, causing disturbance to other people.

A warrant granted the right to enter the property to abate a significant statutory nuisance being caused by a resident playing prolonged loud amplified music.

The property was entered with the assistance of Avon and Somerset Police and the equipment capable of producing the noise nuisance was seized.

A spokesperson for Somerset Council’s Environmental Health team said they hoped the case will show its commitment to making sure anyone breaching an Abatement Notice cannot ignore it and that such action deters others who play their music unreasonably loudly, significantly affecting other people.

Cllr Federica Smith Roberts, council lead member for communities, housing and culture, said: "Our officers will try to persuade individuals to behave more responsibly. If they don’t, the council has a range of legal powers at its disposal.

"We only take enforcement action when other means of resolving the problem have failed.”

To report a noise problem or for advice on any issues you can visit www.somerset.gov.uk/environment-and-food-safety/noise-nuisance/ or call 0300 123 2224.