PEOPLE living next to football pitches who say they have had to endure excessive noise, light pollution and swearing have asked local councillors to intervene.

The all-weather pitches, based at Hadleigh High School leisure centre and managed by South Suffolk Leisure, were built in 2010 on land next to Station Road.

But shortly after the multi-use games area opened, residents of neighbouring streets lodged official complaints about the noise caused by balls hitting a perimeter fence.

In April, Babergh District Council served a noise abatement notice and the school was told to soundproof the fence.

But Ken Lewis, who has lived in Station Road for more than 20 years, says this has not improved the situation sufficiently.

He added: “We have been landed with a football pitch at the bottom of our gardens and there appears to be absolutely nothing we can do.

“I have written repeatedly to the county council asking if they can stop the facility being used between April and September so we can at least sit in our gardens in peace during summer, but the school won’t budge and it seems like we have reached a stalemate.”

Local councillor Penny Cook suggested the town council should write to all of the different bodies concerned offering to mediate, adding: “We should make it clear that we don’t think it’s acceptable that there has been no resolution of this matter.”

But Hadleigh High headteacher Caroline Gibson said: “We have complied with all of the conditions imposed by Babergh and we meet regularly to find solutions that will benefit the whole community, including residents and users of our facilities.”