A nursery school has been threatened with a noise abatement order after a neighbour complained that children playing in the garden were too noisy.
The Jigsaw Nursery on Locks Heath Park Road, Hampshire, must reduce its noise.
Fareham Borough Council has suggested to the school the children should play outside in the garden - landscaped with parents' money - for one hour per day.
The authority said it had a statutory duty to investigate the complaint after visiting the neighbour in September.
'Very upsetting'
If the noise levels are not reduced the owners of the building - Locks Heath Memorial Hall committee - could be served with a noise abatement order, which could then lead to a fine if breached.
Julie Diggens, chair of Jigsaw pre-school group, said: "It is upsetting, very upsetting when we are putting all the effort and the hard work into fundraising to make this a fantastic garden for them full of different areas and they will not get the use out of it."
The local authority said it was still investigating the complaint.
Karen Spicer, whose child attends the nursery, said: "I just think it is really sad.
"I felt that when I was looking around for pre-schools for my younger one it was a real bonus for Jigsaws to have the garden.
"It was one of the plus points, it was at the top of my list."
The nursery, which is open four days a week, caters for youngsters aged two years nine months to five.
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BBC NEWS
Published: 2005/11/08 21:16:19 GMT
