A Skipton woman was shocked to receive a council letter about her two children making noise while playing outside.

Burnside Avenue resident Carol Culverhouse received a letter from Craven District Council’s environmental health department stating that complaints had been received about excessive noise from “loud shouting and screaming” which was causing a nuisance to neighbours.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” said Mrs Culverhouse, who said the only noise it could have been would be from her two children, Aimee, nine, and Callum, seven, playing in the garden.

“I know they’re complaining about the children, but you can’t stop children playing out.”

Mrs Culverhouse said she tried to keep the children’s noise levels down, but Burnside Avenue was a family estate where there were a lot of children.

A council spokesman said letters are sent whenever an allegation is made to make an individual aware of a complaint.

The letter, issued by the senior environmental health officer, states: “I do not wish to prevent you from enjoying your property, however it is unacceptable for neighbours to have to listen to excessive noise from your premises or to have to suffer other disturbance.”

Mrs Culverhouse said she did not want to upset neighbours and was now “dreading the summer holidays” because her children would want to play outside.

The council letter indicated that in the event of a “statutory noise nuisance” being caused, an abatement notice could be served, which if not adhered to could lead to a prosecution and equipment causing the noise seized.

“I don’t even own a hi-fi system, so what are they going to do, seize the children?” said Mrs Culverhouse.

A council spokesman said it was officer’s statutory duty to investigate allegations. He added: “It makes the recipients of the letter aware of the allegations and an opportunity to consider the situation and, if indeed the complaints are justified, address the situation and make appropriate adjustments.

“It also offers advice and an opportunity to discuss the matter about what may be considered acceptable or indeed an actionable nuisance.”

The spokesman noted that the letter was a first response by Environmental Health and pointed out that only around five per cent of cases proceeded to an abatement notice and only one to two per cent resulted in prosecution for a criminal offence.