Residents living next to floodlights that had been left on all night felt "like prisoners of war" as they struggled to sleep under the glare.

Ken Reaveley had to buy new curtains to block out the glow from log cabin retailer Dunster House in Staple Street Road, Faversham.

The business, which neighbours the 69-year-old's property, has now agreed to switch off the lights earlier each day.

But Swale Borough Council has launched an investigation into his complaints.

And Mr Reaveley maintains the "whole situation should never have taken place" - as it left him and his wife feeling trapped inside their own home.

Speaking to KentOnline, he said: "We had to get new curtains in to block the light out - if we didn’t have these we would have been a floodlit house.

“It’s a cost we could do without - it’s not like life is exactly cheap at the moment.

“When those lights would come on, it could be blinding and it affected us getting a good night’s sleep.

“I felt like a prisoner of war in my own home.”

Dunster House was erected on the site of the former Duke of Kent pub just off the Thanet Way 10 years ago.

The plans for the new floodlights were approved last June, along with proposals to construct a new building on the plot.

The controversial illuminations went up at the beginning of this month - shortly after which Mr Reaveley started to suffer from disturbed sleep.

But he says recent dialogue with Dunster House has been positive, and that the business has acted on his concerns.

“The lights went off at about 7pm on Thursday night, and didn’t disturb our sleep, so if it continues to operate like this then that’s good,” Mr Reaveley added.

“I’m pleased Dunster House have rectified the matter, but this whole situation should never have taken place."

Dunster House operations manager Michael Hart-King says he regrets that Mr Reaveley had suffered.

He stresses the firm has made adjustments to the lengths of time the lights remain of for and their angles to prevent from shining into pensioner's home.

"As a local business, the last thing we wish to do is offend our neighbours," Mr Hart-King said.

"Unfortunately, as new fittings go in, there are occasionally teething problems.

“Since receipt of Mr Reaveley’s emails, I have been in contact with the branch manager regarding the newly installed lights, with instruction to make alterations to reduce the impact on his home.

“An email I received on Friday morning from Mr Reaveley says the adjustments have worked and he is happy with the outcome.

“We would never intentionally set out to offend and, having apologised to Mr Reaveley for the inconvenience that was caused, the problem has now been rectified.”

When asked for comment on the case, a borough council spokesman said: “The planning application for lights at Dunster House was carefully scrutinised by our environmental health and planning teams before being approved.

“Our planning enforcement team are now investigating the complaint.”