SSSHHH! This is the message from Bournemouth council to mark Noise Action Week this week - a national initiative to raise awareness of simple, practical measures we can all take to reduce noise problems.

Loud music and barking dogs disturb British people more than any other noise and complaints about noise pollution have continued to rise in many areas.

In an imaginative response to the campaign, Bournemouth Borough Council has donated an Aladdin's cave of audio equipment to Dorset Reclaim, a charity which recycles furniture and electrical goods.

Neil Short of the public protection department at the council said: "The equipment had been seized by the council from noisy neighbours who refused to use it reasonably, and it was not reclaimed."

Ray Tovey of Dorset Reclaim said: "Now law-abiding members of the public will benefit and the nuisance-makers have lost out."

Each year nuisance noise is the cause of hundreds of calls to police and local authorities. Complaints range from annoying car and house alarms, pubs and clubs and traffic, to deafening DIY, gardening noise and fireworks.

Between April 2004 and April 2005, Bournemouth's public protection department received 800 complaints about public noise.

A lack of communication between neighbours is blamed for the high level of complaints.

Mr Short said: "Just have a little word."

He urged people to notify their neighbours in advance of unusual noise such as parties. "You could even invite them," he added.

According to the National Society for Clean Air, complaints about noise increased for 39 per cent of local authorities in England.

And it's not just humans who suffer. A survey of vets in England and Wales found that in 2001, 4,825 animals were treated for firework-related injuries or prescribed sedatives.

The best advice is to treat neighbours as you would expect them to treat you. If you have a complaint, first try to reach an amicable solution. If you are unable to approach the person responsible for the noise, the council's public protection department may be able to help.