NEIGHBOURS of a Darwen woman served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) for playing loud music said they hope it will mean an end to their nightmare.

Deborah Reeves, of Olive Lane, faces up to five years in prison if she plays music too loud again after Blackburn magistrates imposed a three-year ASBO.

And neighbours said today they are delighted that the noise - which included dance music - may finally stop disturbing their sleep.

The court heard that Reeves had ignored all approaches about the volume of music from her home and had then contravened an abatement notice.

Jemma Jones, prosecuting, said that on the last occasion the matter was before the court Reeves had not turned up because she was at home playing loud music. Reeves was convicted in her absence on July 8 of four breaches of the abatement notice. She was also fined £200 with £278 costs.

Miss Jones said complaints about noise nuisance from Reeves' home had started in September 2002.

Noise complaint sheets were completed and a letter highlighting the complaints was sent to her in October 2003.

It also warned that surveillance visits and noise monitoring might be undertaken.

This led to a temporary improvement but in June 2003 the complaints resumed and a digital noise monitoring device was installed next-door. The abatement notice was served in December 2003.

Miss Jones said: "Despite this, complaints continued to be received, primarily about the playing of amplified noise late at night and at the weekend."

A 41-year-old neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said: "We have lived here only 12 months but it has been terrible.

"We joined the others in writing letters to the council because it was so loud that if we had the TV on it would be louder than that. It was a thumping base sound and was beyond a joke.

"The main problem was that it was all through the night. We are up at 4am because we start work early and it's still going then.

"Some of the neighbours told me they were actually having to sleep with earplugs in which no-one should have to do in their own home.

"It was constant. We were coming back from work at 2.30am one morning and could hear the music before we even opened the car door."

A 53-year-old neighbour said: "She has all the windows wide open and doesn't care.

"It goes on all night. We can hear it so I feel sorry for those next door. A couple who used to live next door moved out last year because of it."

Reeves was unavailable to comment.