ACOUSTICS experts have been called in at a Bolton company after neighbours complained about noises coming from the premises at night.

As reported in the BEN, Bolton Council's environmental health department issued an enforcement notice against Horwich Castings after nearby residents complained of unacceptable noise levels coming from the company through the night.

The Chorley New Road business, which produces metal castings for the railway and engineering industries, had 90 days in which to find the source of the noises and get rid of them.

But residents' spokesman Jackie Smith, who has lived in nearby Tredgold Street for 10 years, remains to be convinced by the new measures.

She said: "There has been a slight improvement in the noise, but we've had bad problems because of all the smoke.

"The other day it looked as though someone's house was on fire there was so much smoke.

"Even at 10.30pm and 11pm at night we can still hear noises, but through the night it is better.

"Sometimes it stops altogether for a few days and then starts again.

"We had hoped a resident might be invited to the meeting between Horwich Castings and the environmental health department last week, but nobody was.

"It would help if the company would at least plant some trees or hedges to blanket the noise, but they won't.

"I think there should be a 24-hour environmental health watchdog line because they need to come up when the problem is actually going on -- the next day is no good."

Linda Duckworth, from the environmental health department, said: "Horwich Castings were asked to employ an acoustics consultant to identify noise causes, which has been done.

"The consultant identified a number of noise sources, all of which can be switched off.

"In terms of improving the situation, providing the machines are switched off in the evening, there should be no problem.

"We held a meeting with Horwich Castings last week at which they agreed that in addition they will also put timers on the machines so that they automatically go off.

"Also, they are setting up a system whereby the residents contact the firm's security people if something is left on by accident.

"So, it's a now position of seeing if things have been sorted out to everyone's satisfaction."

Horwich Castings were unavailable for comment.