The scale of the nuisance caused by noisy neighbours across Norfolk and north Suffolk is laid bare today, after new figures showed councils have received more than 12,000 complaints over just two years.

Loud music, barking dogs, crowing cockerels, people shouting, burglar alarms, noisy cars and machinery at farms and factories have sparked sleepless nights for frustrated families and desperate calls for action to environmental health officers.

According to statistics obtained using the Freedom Of Information Act, in the past two years there have been just over 12,800 complaints lodged with local councils in Norfolk and Waveney.

Local councils have served more than 70 abatement notices on those responsible, while in 22 cases, 'noise-making equipment', such as stereos, have been seized.

Among the abatement notices served were one to the owner of noisy dogs in Southburgh, near Hingham, and to somebody in Attleborough whose crowing cockerels led to complaints.

Half a dozen people have been prosecuted after councils pursued them all the way to court, including one in Great Yarmouth.

Norwich City Council received the highest number of complaints. In 2012/13 there were 3,641 complaints and in 2013/14 there were a further 2,475.

The council said 90pc of the complaints were because of noise coming from homes across the city, with seven per cent related to pubs, clubs, restaurants and other businesses.

The city council served 10 noise abatement notices in 2012/13 and 14 in 2013/14 and seized equipment three times.

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: 'The city council takes all noise complaints seriously, but we find the majority are resolved quickly by informal contact with those responsible.

'However, we have an out-of-hours service to investigate when appropriate and on occasions when a particular issue has persisted we have taken enforcement action – which has included seizing noise equipment.'

• Have you successfully sought help from a local council to stop noisy neighbours? Tell us your story by emailing dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk