Barking dogs are high on the hate list

In Cardiff alone there were more than 2,500 noise complaints last year - the majority of them were neighbour disputes.

Cardiff Noise Pollution Team said it has had a huge increase in caseload in the last five years - from dogs barking to noisy crickets from a pet shop.

Environmental Health officer Rob Hartshorne, who works in the noise and air pollution unit in Cardiff, said persistent unwanted noise, even if it is relatively quiet, can still seriously affect your health.

In Denbighshire, residents of a housing estate in Rhyl are trying to deal with the problem of noisy neighbours themselves.

The Bruton Park Estate are hoping a new mediation scheme will help encourage some peace and quiet.

Ann Jones, Assembly member for the area, said tolerance for persistently noisy tenants should be limited.

And councils are looking at using the full force of the law by confiscating stereos or moving noisy tenants - as the problems increase.