Environmental health officers received more than 200 noise complaints from residents in East Cambridgeshire last year.

Figures released by the district council this week show that the authority was inundated with 230 complaints, with the cost of investigating the nuisance noise coming in at £10,500.

Dogs were by far the most common cause of concern, with 60 complaints received from residents – more than a quarter.

Loud music and loud voices were the next most common issues – with the council receiving 42 complaints about each.

The authority also received a complaint about noisy bells and 10 complaints about DIY.

Last year’s figure was an eight per cent increase from 2009, when the authority received 211 complaints. The cost of investigating each complaint also rose, with £8,500 spent in 2009, compared with £10,500 last year.

By the beginning of April this year, the council had received 32 complaints.