A man who played reggae music so loud from his Folkestone flat it could heard above traffic has had his stereo equipment seized by Shepway District Council.

Enforcement officers recorded the music from 50 metres away, following complaints about a flat in Dover Road, Folkestone. Lyrics from the music were clearly audible from neighbouring properties and judged loud enough to prevent people nearby from sleeping.

Officers were granted permission on Friday to seize the equipment being used to play the music from Patrick Noel Brogan.

Shepway District Council served an abatement notice, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, ordering Mr Brogan to stop playing amplified sound that causes a nuisance to neighbours on October 2, 2013.

A week later, a council officer was able to clearly hear lyrics from nine properties away at 10.30pm.

A further letter was sent on October 10, warning Mr Brogan action would be taken if unacceptable levels of noise were heard again.

Council officers later heard further unacceptable levels of noise coming from the property, resulting in magistrates granting a warrant to allow the council to enter Mr Brogan’s flat and seize his music equipment.

This included hi-fis, stereos, a large number of speakers, a television and a number of CDs.

The equipment is stored in a secure location for one month before the owner can reclaim it back - after paying the storage fees and all costs incurred for the seizure. The noise abatement notice still remains enforceable.

Cllr Rory Love, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said: “Residents who want nothing more than a decent night’s sleep should not have to suffer noise disturbance night after night from one anti-social neighbour.

"That is why we have taken this action on behalf of residents in Dover Road.