SEIZED musical equipment was smashed to pieces by Newport council to highlight what happens when residents play music too loud.

The equipment was destroyed on Tuesday before being recycled at the council’s Household waste recycling centre in Docks Way, and shows just one of the penalties facing people who cause noise nuisance.

Persistent offenders could also end up in court facing fines of up to £5,000 or even a prison sentence.

Figures released by the city council to mark Noise Action Week, which runs until today, highlight the misery that can be caused by such behaviour.

In Newport in 2009/10 there were 1,322 complaints about loud music or televisions and another 528 in relation to animals, usually barking dogs.

Caerphilly council had 943 domestic noise complaints and 508 for barking dogs between April 2009 and April 2010, whilst Torfaen council received a total of 336 complaints and Blaenau Gwent council a total of 535 during the same period.

Monmouthshire council received a total of 359 noise complaints.

Noise Action Week is an annual initiative organised by Environmental Protection UK, a charity supported by pollution control professionals.