RESIDENTS living close to Watchet's new £35,000 skatepark have been reaching for the earplugs amid claims that noisy crowds are gathering on the Memorial Ground into the early hours.

Householders in Kingsland, which backs on to the site, say they are suffering sleepless nights as youngsters and adults hang around until 3am with music blaring from parked cars.

Watchet Town Council has also received complaints that the steel ramp itself creates too much noise when being used by skateboarders.

The council admitted that there was the problem of a "rumble effect" and it will be speaking to the manufacturers to seek ways to add sound insulation to the ramp.

Those most affected by the skatepark have been logging all disturbances, day and night, for West Somerset District Council's environmental health department.

Kingsland resident Carol Northam said: "There are kids of all age groups outside until two or three o'clock in the morning and we are having trouble sleeping.

"Cars are parked up with music blaring at all hours and there is also the noise of the skateboarders themselves. In my opinion, the ramp is built in the wrong place.

"There are children in these houses who can't get to sleep with the ramp being too close to our back doors."

Mrs Northam and her husband Chris, who have two daughters aged 15 and six, say that the noise has stopped them and their neighbours spending time in the garden.

"We are all fed up here and, with the warm weather, the noise has put paid to us having barbecues or relaxing in our back garden," she added.

Ted Jones, who works shifts as an ambulance technician and also lives in Kingsland, said he and his family were fed up with the constant noise.

"This ramp is basically made of steel and, as the plastic wheels of the skateboards come into contact, it is causing this thumping effect from seven in the morning until late into the night.

"The skatepark is far too close to our back doors and whoever dreamt up the idea of putting it there must have known there was going to be problems. It is great for the kids but not for us."

Mr Jones added: "I work 12-hour shifts so I need my sleep when I come home, but there are kids out there until sometimes 3am making a racket."

Youngsters in the town have waited three years for a skatepark after funding was finally secured from the town council and a number of agencies.

The town council, which took over the site after it was transferred by the district council, says it is listening to residents' concerns.

Chairman of Watchet Town Council's play and sports committee Cllr Sally de Renzy-Martin has written this week to households in Kingsland to reassure them that the problems are being investigated.

She said: "We have received complaints from some residents but we are looking at putting extra soundproofing on the ramp to cut down on the rumble effect.

"The skatepark has proved extremely popular and the kids think it is wonderful but as usual there is an element who are spoiling it for the rest.

"We are taking on board the complaints and especially the problems with noise at night as this is the most worrying."

She added: "When the novelty factor wears off, the summer holidays finish and the weather changes we should see only the more keen skateboarders using the facility."