A SENIOR nurse deemed responsible for playing music so loud that it upset her neighbours and the occupants of a nearby caravan park has vowed to fight the ruling.

Dr Sarina Saiger was ordered to pay out nearly £8,000 when magistrates dismissed her appeal against a Durham County Council abatement notice.

It followed a four month investigation by the council last year in response to complaints about loud music coming from the 51-year-old’s home in Ireshopeburn in Upper Weardale.

Witness statements and noise recordings were obtained from a number of sources, with two environmental health officers hearing the noise on four separate occasions and verifying it came from Dr Saiger’s Lane Hill home.

However, Dr Saiger disputed she was responsible for the music, claiming she was not present on many of the occasions it was played. She challenged the council’s abatement notice, which resulted in the hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court last month.

Eight witnesses, including the environmental health officers, nearby residents and occupants of the caravan park, gave evidence on behalf of the authority. Three witnesses, including two of her neighbours, gave evidence on behalf of Dr Saiger.

The court was also played recordings of the music and heard it had mainly been played at the weekend.

Magistrates dismissed Dr Saiger’s appeal and ordered her to pay the council’s legal costs of £7,831.63.

Speaking after the hearing, Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “We are pleased that the court agreed we were right to serve the abatement notice.

“We don’t want to stop anyone enjoying themselves in their own home but no-one should have to live with excessively loud music from their neighbours.

“Residents can be assured we will continue to investigate all complaints of noise disturbance and that we will take appropriate action where we find a nuisance.”

Dr Saiger described Durham County Council’s account of the events as “inaccurate” and “self-serving,” adding: “The judgement is currently within the 21 day limitation period and I am unable able to comment on matters which will be the subject of an appeal before the crown court.”

She said the Local Government Ombudsman was investigating the council’s environmental health and consumer protection department over the “maladministration” of the caravan park, where she claims the same noise disturbance was alleged.

The Local Government Ombudsman, which looks into complaints about councils, was unable to comment.