ANGRY residents say noise from a factory is keeping them up at night.

Jill Armstrong, 61, of Garland Road, Parkeston, lives 200 yards from the Surya Rice Factory, in Europa Way, and said it is being used day and night despite not having 24-hour permission.

Mrs Armstrong said the factory put in an application for 24/7 working but it was refused, following a petition from opponents.

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 neighbours.

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

“Next door our neighbours have two children and the daughter was found one morning sleeping on the sofa as the noise got too much for her to sleep in her own bed. All we want to do is sleep at night.”

Mrs Armstrong said they have complained to Tendring Council and they have installed three noise detectors but nothing has drastically improved.

She said: “It’s been a lot quieter recently but the extracting fans are still going on most nights. We are logging all our complaints but we don’t really know the outcome.

“Tendring Council has gone quiet. Over 200 phone calls to out of hours environmental health are falling on deaf ears.”

Tendring councillor Bill Davidson said: “The noise and lorries are interrupting people’s and children’s sleep. It’s a nonsense. I’ve got numerous videos and recordings of the noise.

“I’ve complained to the council on their behalf and I keep complaining to Surya Rice Factory and all they say it’s they are sorting it out.”

A spokesman for Tendring Council said officers are investigating complaints about the site.

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

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