A BLACKBURN pub has been warned about its live beer garden rock nights after residents said the events were blighting their lives.

The Havelock Inn, Havelock Street, was given a noise abatement notice last week after 15 complaints were made to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The notice means that the pub could be fined up to £20,000 if music is played ‘unreasonably’ loud outside the pub.

But landlord, Darren Heggie said he has done nothing wrong, and that stopping live bands playing outside would put a stop to his charity fund-raising.

He said: “There was a licence to play music outside since before I took it over in February 2008.

“We have had live bands to raise money for charities during the summer months until 11pm at the latest.

“The council told me that there had been a number of complaints and suggested that we turned the speakers round and put foam under them to minimise the sound.

“This was done but the council still received comp-laints. Before I had any chance to discuss the matter with them I was issued with the noise abatement notice.

“The decision is totally ridiculous and I am going to appeal against it.”

But Sheena Cunningham, who lives in Essex Close, she said she endured months of sleepless nights because of the noise.

She said: “It has been a nightmare living with the noise from the pub. We haven’t been able to open our windows or doors at night because we can hear singing blasting out.”

A resident from Hollins Street, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ”It’s been terrible. We haven’t been able to sleep because of the noise.”

Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment, said the council was acting on behalf of residents ‘who had been blighted by noise nuisance coming from outside this pub’.

He said: “The level of noise from music being played outside is disturbing people in their homes.

“The last thing the council wants to do is shut down any business in the town.

“The council has been trying to work with the landlord about this issue to bring about a satisfactory resolution.

"However, our advice has been ignored. If noise is kept to a reasonable level he will have abated the nuisance and no further action will be taken.”