ANGRY residents have hit out about noise coming from a factory at night, saying it is “seriously disturbing people’s sleep”.

Jill Armstrong, of Garland Road, Parkeston, lives about 200 yards from the Surya Rice Factory.

But she claims work is being carried out 24 hours a day, without planning permission.

Mrs Armstrong, 61, said the factory applied for work to take place 24/7, but, after many objections and a petition, it was refused by Tendring Council.

But Mrs Armstrong said this has not stopped the factory “sounding like War of the Worlds” at night.

She said: “When the fans get turned on, even with windows closed, you can still hear the noise from the factory, they are torturing the neighbouring residents.

“We had to move to our front bedroom because we couldn’t sleep at night due to the noise. All we want to do is sleep.”

Mrs Armstrong said she has complained to Tendring Council and it has installed three noise detectors.

She said: “It’s been a lot quieter recently, but the extracting fans are still going on most nights.

“Tendring Council has gone quiet. More than 200 phone calls to out-of-hours environmental health officers are falling on deaf ears.” Bill Davidson, district councillor for Dovercourt Vines and Parkeston ward, said: “The noise and lorries are interrupting people’s sleep.”

“It’s quite a nonsense.”

A Tendring Council spokesman said the complaint was focused around alleged breaches of planning permission.

He said: “Officers from environmental health have been supporting our planning team to investigate complaints at this site.”

“Officers have also been working with the company to resolve the issues that have led to the complaints.

“This matter is being investigated, and will be followed-up appropriately.”

A Surya Rice spokesman said: “Since occupying the site in the late Nineties we have and will continue to be very courteous to our neighbours while running an expanding business.

“We are aware of two complaints and have requested noise monitoring information from Tendring Council allowing us to investigate allegations further.”