Buzz off!

Sonic gloom as high-pitched alarm ‘makes kids ill’
CHILDREN as young as two areclaimed to be suffering chronic headaches and ear infections follwong a neighbour’s installation of a high-pitched alarm to deter the youngsters from playing near their home.

Ten children on Borrowdale Close, Royton, are on medication to fight the pain since the so-called “mosquito alarm” — which emits a high-frequency noise only heard by young ears — was installed a week ago.

Owners Scott Smith and Andrea Riley say it is a last resort to stop rowdy behaviour, abuse and damage.

But mum-of-four Michelle Plevin says it is causing too much distress to youngsters.

The alarms have become a popular method for shopkeepers, police and councils to disperse large groups of anti-social youths: the uncomfortable sound can be heard up to 40 yards away.

Michelle, whose two year old son already suffers hearing problems, said: “The alarm is causing a lot of bother to the children on this street. I invite them round to play in my garden, but then this alarm comes on and they all start saying they feel poorly and that their head and ears hurt.

“Sometimes it comes on at night and wakes them up. The younger the child, the worse the feeling.

“It’s not just my children. It’s children across the road and babies living on the other side of the street.”

Scott (39) and Andrea (43) say the decision to install the alarm came after two years of abuse and trouble from local children.

Scott said: “I’m not a grumpy old man who hates children. Because of my partner’s Maltese nationality, some of the children started making racist comments. There was damage to our cars because the kids kept hitting them with footballs. Our dog got hurt. And they make a lot of noise when we have come home from working very long days.

“We have no objection to them playing, but when they’re on the trampoline at all hours we can’t relax in our own home. This alarm is the only thing that has given us any kind of life back. It’s on for 20 minutes then it switches itself off. There has been an ongoing problem, and this is the only thing that seems to have worked.”

Environmental Health officers have visited the street and spoken to residents, though no action has yet been proposed.