A BANK holiday party shook the neighbourhood and could not be silenced, as residents discovered when they tried in vain to contact the council's noise control officers.

Drayton Road resident Kenneth Crowley was one of many disturbed by relentless noise from church members playing loud music from large amplifiers outside the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Leytonstone street on Sunday.

When at least three disgruntled neighbours asked the party to keep the noise down, their requests fell on deaf ears.

Mr Crowley said he was left with no choice but to contact the council noise control office, only to find the office was unattended.

He told the Guardian: "As a council taxpayer I was extremely disappointed and frustrated to learn there was no one on duty in this department to assist me, and very surprised as I thought a bank holiday weekend was an obvious time to have someone on duty."

He then called Leyton police station but was told all powers to stop loud music had been handed over to the noise control department of the council.

Mr Crowley added: "I find it incredible that a gathering of people can have permission to play loud amplified music on a residential street.

"More councillors need to investigate why residents of Drayton Road are subjected to this behaviour by the church and to do something about it."

It is not the first time the council has received complaints about noise emanating from the church, and officers are currently investigating the issue.

The council maintains a noise officer was not available to attend to the complaint on Sunday because of short-term staff shortage, although an out-of-hours service does usually operate at weekends and on bank holidays to deal with noise nuisance.

A council spokeswoman said: "The council regrets the inconvenience caused and would like to reassure local people it does take cases of noise nuisance seriously."

Noise enforcement officers have contacted the church to discuss the problems and have added the location to a priority list. Officers will now visit the are, during times when complaints have been received, and by witnessing noise levels they will be able to take enforcement action if necessary.