BASINGSTOKE Town Football Club has apologised after residents were disturbed throughout the night be noise coming from the stadium tannoy.

Residents in South Ham complained to police about the noise, which started at 10pm on Saturday and went on until 4am on Sunday.

Simon Wilding, of Kelvin Hill, South Ham, described the noise as "like someone was dragging an empty greenhouse across the street".

The 39-year-old father-of-four added: "Following the game the tannoy intermittently blasted out overnight on what can only be described as scanning for a radio station. From around 10pm right the way through to around 4am the silence of the night was broken randomly by noise coming from the stadium."

Mr Wilding, who works in business development for Volkswagen, called police on 101 and was told that the force has received multiple complaints, including from residents as far away as Winklebury, but had not been able to contact the key holder of the club, in Western Way, to stop the noise.

He said: "I appreciate that living so close to the stadium we get noise and light pollution which we all tolerate, but last night went beyond the reasonable level. Having spoken to many residents around the area this morning we have all had a terrible night's sleep by whatever caused the noise.

"It would be sensible for at least an apology from the club given the disruption it caused."

Leighton Oliver, from Mansfield Road, South Ham, said he contacted the club at 10.30pm to report the noise, and was told it would be dealt with.

But when it was still going on at midnight, he tried to phone the club again and was unable to get hold of anyone.

The 41-year-old father-of-six, said: "For a football club that prides itself on working in the community how can the club make a decision that a key holder wouldn't attend? All they had to do was open the press box and turn off a switch. I know it would be inconvenient but key holders have responsibilities. It's just not right."

He said he could hear music playing from the club every time a car drove past, and added: "The noise was so loud it could be heard in Cranbourne and Winklebury. The club, police and council were all contacted but the music was stopped at 8am after promises of being dealt with at 11pm. Local residents have not actually slept all night."

Katie Oliver, officer manager for Basingstoke Town FC, responded to Mr Wilding to apologise for the disturbance.

She explained: "It appears the wireless receiver we have in the press box was being picked up by anyone driving past the ground who has a device in their car which enables such reception to be picked up, hence, noise, music etc. This wireless receiver has been there for a number of years without any problems. As of this morning everything has been disabled, and we will get it looked at this week. The tannoy system itself was not left switched on.

"Once again our sincere apologies for this."

Mr Wilding added: "I appreciate it may be a mistake and is a one off in all the time we and other residents have lived here, but to hear the frustration from the call handlers at Hampshire police tells it all."