A NAILSEA couple have been prosecuted after failing to stop their dogs from excessively barking.

Carl and Kerry Bushe of Goss Barton had previously been handed a noise abatement notice by North Somerset Council after numerous complaints were made about their dogs.

After breaching the notice three times, the couple were prosecuted at North Somerset Courthouse on November 16 despite them not appearing for the hearing.

The court heard North Somerset Council had received many complaints about the noise of dogs barking coming from the couple’s property.

A noise abatement notice was served on them in February, ordering the Bushes to provide adequate supervision to prevent undue barking.

Despite this, more complaints were received and, in July, an environmental protection officer went to the property. In just 40 minutes they recorded a total of 885 barks.

A subsequent letter warned the Bushes they should take steps to prevent further breaches.

However, more complaints were made and, in August, a council officer recorded 141 barks in just seven minutes at the house. Five days later, 376 barks were recorded in nine minutes.

On November 16, magistrates decided the case had been proved and sentenced the Bushes.

They were fined �1,500 and ordered to pay �358 in costs and a �15 victim surcharge. North Somerset Council’s executive member for consumer protection Peter Bryant said: “Constant noise can have a really debilitating effect on people - especially when they are at home where it is completely reasonable to expect a certain level of peace and quiet.

“In this particular case we had spoken to the dog owners who chose to ignore our advice and decided that the noise abatement notice wasn’t something they needed to abide by.”