STUDENTS last night voiced their concerns at the disruption from a building site near their halls of residence.

Post-graduates at Durham University staged a demonstration over the noise levels as work proceeds on expanding Ustinov College, at Howland's Farm, off South Road, Durham.

About 50 members of the college, formerly the university's Post Graduate Society, staged the rally, singing John Lennon's 1970s protest song Give Peace a Chance.

Protest leader Nicole Green, one of many overseas students at the college, said they have no complaint with the contractors, but they are annoyed that they were not warned of the close proximity of the construction site to the halls of residence.

She said: "The way the construction site is progressing it's getting harder and harder.

"Our complaints are not being heard. We never received notice of the magnitude of the site.

"It's not unreasonable that construction work should make a noise, and the construction company has been very nice, but the college has done nothing to negate circumstances."

Professor Tim Burt of Durham University acknowledged the complaints and said he hoped to meet the college residents to listen to their complaints.

He said: "Our message is that we want to sit down and talk to them.

"They have not yet requested a meeting, but I'm happy to sit down and listen to their concerns."

Work on the expansion at the Howland's Farm site is expected to continue until September.