Picketing firefighters are calling on motorists to stop honking their horns - because it frightens residents in a nearby home for the elderly.

Motorists across the country toot when they pass picket lines if they support the industrial action.

But a fire station in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, is opposite the Parkway House home for the elderly and residents have complained they are being frightened by the din.

Now striking firefighters are calling on motorists to keep the noise down and have removed signs calling on drivers to sound their support.

Parkway House warden Kathleen Boxhall said: "There are a lot of car horns. It was quite frightening for the residents. The noise was like vibrations."

Firefighters have sent biscuits and cakes over to the home to make up for the disturbance.