Residents want more done to ease noise from the motorway

The Highways Agency is due to start work to install a new road surface around the Enderby and Narborough area.

But it has ruled out putting in acoustic barriers as it claims traffic flows are not as noisy as other areas along the motorway.

Mich Bingham, secretary of a residents' pressure group, said: "It's like living alongside a train that never stops."

The group has collected more than 600 signatures from people calling for more to done to decrease the noise.

We have got no quality of life at all in our garden Margaret Jordan, resident

The Highways Agency had originally put back resurfacing works until 2007 but now plans to carry them out early this year.

Resident Margaret Jordan said: "If you come out of our back garden I always think it's like coming out into a runway of an airport.

"Imagine sitting here, trying to have a conversation with your neighbours, with friends coming for a barbecue - you just can't.

"We have got no quality of life at all in our garden."

A Highways Agency spokesperson said the resurfacing work would "significantly improve" the noise levels for residents.