FURIOUS and frustrated residents have criticised Esso Fawley Refinery bosses for failing to solve a noise nightmare that has blighted their lives for almost two years.

The company has admited that the £2m it invested in a new silencer has failed to stop the problem.

Families in the villages of Hardley and Holbury, which boarder the giant complex, are still plagued by a deafening din.

The racket, which has been described as being like a jet aircraft, is causing sleepless nights in hundreds of homes near the huge petrochemical complex.

Esso has installed equipment in an attempt to rectify the fault, but locals say it has made matters worse.

Pensioner David Legg, 66, of Wentworth Gardens, Holbury said: "For the past two years our homes have been invaded by a noise that sounds like a jet engine revving up.

"It can be heard over the TV, no matter how much we turn the volume up."

Mr Legg, who described the ear-splitting sound as "torture", said his wife could only get to sleep at night if she wore earplugs.

He told members of Fawley Parish Council: "My quality of life is absolutely zero."

Councillor Allan Glass said: "Mr Legg telephoned me about the noise. It was so bad I had to hold the phone away from my ear, even though he had his windows shut.

"Esso has got to cure this problem. The noise has been far too loud for far too long."

Earlier this year the company says it fitted a 45-tonne silencer. But the complaints are still flooding in.

A refinery spokesman admitted that the silencer had failed.

He said the sound emanated from the catalytic cracking unit and added: "It is very noisy in certain wind and weather conditions.

"We invested £2m in installing the new silencer, but became aware that it wasn't doing its stuff.

"We have now got external consultants to look at what we've done so far, take measurements in the community and come up with solutions.

"We are committed to finding an answer. It is not acceptable for us to have these things causing problems in the community."

Families living near the refinery say it is also responsible for a nauseating smell that often lasts for several hours.

The spokesman added: "When we trace the cause of a problem we take action to rectify it.

"You will get smells from an oil refinery and you will get noise, but both New Forest District Council and the Environment Agency are aware of what we are trying to do."

IS the Fawley din giving you sleepless nights? Call Chris Yandell at the Daily Echo on 01590 613804 or email using the link above.