NOISE complaints about disruptive dogs are on the rise in the Cherwell District Council area, with over 150 complaints in under a year.

During 2012-13, Cherwell District Council received 120 complaints about noisy dogs, accounting for 17 per cent of overall noise complaints.

But with six weeks of the current financial year still to go, the number of dog complaints has hit the total of 159.

Tony Ilott, the council’s lead member for public protection, said: “As a country we are known for being a nation of dog lovers but it is very easy to fall out of love with a dog that barks, howls and whines all hours of the day and night.

“Nobody should be forced to tolerate a noisy neighbour, even if the culprit has four legs and a tail.”