A farmer has been ordered to gag his geese … so villagers can enjoy a silent night.
Residents living near Heart of England Farms in Claverdon, Warwickshire, claim they cannot sleep because of the non-stop hissing and honking from the 300-strong flock.
They say the birds have made their lives a misery in the run up to Christmas – and knocked thousands of pounds off the value of their homes because of "noise blight".
The geese have been living in a field adjoining back gardens in Kington Lane. Sleepless neighbours complained to the environmental pollution team at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, and it has slapped a noise abatement notice on the birds.
Farmer Ole Gronning now faces a maximum £20,000 fine if he fails to silence his flock.
Retired builder Roy Hopkins, 69, who lives in a detached bungalow with wife Merryl, 61, a part-time secretary, said he was at the end of his tether over the noise.
"We get the flies and the smell and the non-stop noise. That farmer has made people’s lives a misery."
Mr Hopkins, who has lived in Kington Road for 32 years, said he was only able to sleep at night because he has triple glazing.
"There must be hundreds of geese out there. You have never heard a noise like it."
Stratford Tory councillor Jane Harrison commented: "Obviously the farmer has to earn a living, but I do believe the geese have caused a great deal of noise.
"The problem is that most of the noise is at Christmas time. The flies, of course, have caused a great deal of trouble too." Yesterday, a council spokesman revealed a noise abatement order had been served. However, he added, the geese were being bred for the Christmas table, so he expected the noise to stop imminently:
"A goose is for Christmas – not for life," he said.
Heart of England Farms declined to comment.
