AN Alvechurch couple have been fined for failing to stop their dogs from barking loudly.

Mark and Sarah Mansell, of Latimer Road, pleaded guilty by post at Redditch Magistrates' Court on Thursday, February 16 to breaching a formal notice to stop their dogs barking excessively.

They admitted two offences of failing to comply with an Abatement Notice, requiring them to stop a statutory noise caused by dogs barking at their property.

There had been several complaints from the public, the court heard, leading to investigations by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), which involved the use of noise monitoring equipment.

The investigation confirmed that the noise level was high enough for a notice to be served.

Further monitoring found that the notice had been breached in July and then again in August 2016.

While the Mansells did not attend court, magistrates were read a letter from the defendants stating that the dogs had since been rehomed.

Both defendant was fined £250 for the two separate offences, and ordered to pay costs of £1,007.50, plus a victim surcharge of £30 each. The total payable by the couple was £3,075.

Cllr Bronwen Behan, chairman of the WRS Board, said: "We all have the right to live in our homes free from statutory noise nuisance. The vast majority of complaints can be resolved long before there is the need for formal action or prosecution, but that’s not always the case, and Worcestershire Regulatory Services will take action where necessary to protect the community.”