A ROW between Crawshawbooth villagers and steel firm James Killelea and Co Ltd has been resolved after years of wrangling.

Steel fabricator James Killelea and Co Ltd of Stoneholme Road, clashed with neighbouring residents for three years over "excessive noise".

Rossendale Council served a noise abatement notice on the company, alleging a daytime and night time noise nuisance, in December 2004, against which Killelea launched an appeal.

On Monday, the council and Killelea representatives arrived at Reedley Magistrates' Court to resolve the issue. But before the hearing began, barristers reached a compromise which amended the original abasement notice - removing all reference to daytime noise nuisance - in return for the firm withdrawing its appeal.

A council spokesman said: "A compromise was reached. The result is an enforceable statutory noise abatement notice which requires night time noise nuisance to be abated. Breach of the notice constitutes a criminal offence.

"Any further complaints about noise should be referred to the council's legal department or environ-mental health."

The notice demands noise is kept to a minimum level between 11pm and 7am.

Stoneholme Action Group has welcomed the news which it believes should lead to a quieter and improved standard of living.

A statement from Killelea and Co said the amended notice was acceptable, adding: "The company has undertaken substantial improvement works to deal with any perceived night-time problems."

Managing director Bob Killelea said: "All we ever wanted to do is to operate our business and exist in harmony with our neighbours."

Each party bore its own costs in the court case.