Mystery noise drives couple from UK home

BBC News-- A couple who say a mysterious vibration and noise drove them from their home are appealing for the source to be identified.

Brian and Jane Williams, from Treaddur Bay, Anglesey, say they are plagued by ill health and have been forced to move to live in a caravan.

But despite extensive investigations by Welsh Water and Anglesey council, no cause of the noise could be traced.

Investigations into the couple's complaints have ended.

The couple say their problems began after Welsh Water carried out upgrade works to the sewage system in 2004/5.

Welsh Water say it has found no fault with its equipment.

Mr Williams said they first noticed the noise towards the end of May 2005.

"We were in the kitchen and we turned round to each other and said there's that noise again," he said.

"Then a couple of days passed and the noise was still there, a sort of reverberating noise - like a heavy goods lorry on a slow erratic tick-over or a generator," he added.

As time went on Mrs Williams said they began suffering with other issues.

"We were coughing a lot, we were gagging and retching. We felt our sinuses and our ears were hurting," she said.

"It slowly built up and became more and more debilitating."

Both said their bowels were affected and dishes they had enjoyed eating for years "we could no longer tolerate".

Illness

"It got to the point where we were very, very ill," said Mrs Williams.

After nine months, they moved out to live in a caravan, and say they cannot contemplate moving back because even being in the house for a short period bring the symptoms back, she added.

Now they only return to their home to feed the cat and collect the post each day.

"It's traumatic and our lives have been destroyed," said Mr Williams.

Investigations

Over the years, Anglesey council's environmental health department has looked into it, as well as Dwr Cymru.

The water company said it had spent several months looking into the couple's complaints.

"We are completely satisfied that the matter has been fully investigated and that our equipment is not at fault," said the company in a statement.

Anglesey council's environmental health department said it had spent a considerable time investigating the matter and monitoring noise levels.

The department said it did not find anything of significance that could explain the couple's complaints.

A lot of time and money had been spent, said the council, and the investigation was now at an end.