DISTRICT officials are investigating a number of complaints about excessive noise at this year's Bestival event at Lulworth Castle.

Purbeck District Council (PDC) officers will be contacting festival organisers to raise their concerns, in particular in light of a noise management plan that had been in place.

One beleaguered resident, Mary Warne, who lives five miles away in Bovington, said the noise was "monstrous."

Describing the early hours of last Sunday morning, she said: "I could hear the boom boom boom from the Bestival at Lulworth through my open bedroom window in Bovington at 3.30am.

"That must mean that in the early hours the noise must been spreading over a five mile radius from the festival site."

The following day, after a poor night's sleep, Mrs Warne headed off for a walk to Mupe Bay, and during this walk she met other people who were bemoaning the festival.

"Indeed one walker I met unable to sleep in Lulworth had walked up on Bindon Hill and recorded every word quite clearly from the address system on her phone," she said.

"Another couple I talked to were not residents but down from the north on holiday in Lulworth, unaware that their visit coincided with one of the two weeks the festival.

"Even with earplugs the boom boom boom had kept them awake most of the night."

Criticising the granting of the event's licence, Mrs Warne said: "PDC cannot say it brings financial gain to the area with any credibility with local shops selling a few extra ice creams and fast food and other consumer items to festival goers who escaped the high prices on site but such items can hardly equate with the thousands or millions made by those setting it up and accommodating the festival.

Meanwhile, a PDC has confirmed officers are investigating "some complaints regarding noise levels at Bestival", which took place August 2-5 the week after Camp Bestival.

A council spokesman said: "A noise management plan was in place for the organisers to follow and we will be raising the issue of the noise complaints with the organisers.

"There will also be debriefs with other agencies and with the public, and these will inform what the council decides to do next regarding the licence for Bestival."

A Bestival spokesperson said "We monitor noise throughout the festival, in compliance with our noise management plan which is pre-agreed with the Purbeck District Council Environmental Health Dept and the Safety Advisory Group. All amplified sound was under the strict control of our noise consultants and sound engineers. Continuous monitoring was in place by our consultants round the site and focusing on individual properties as need be.

"During the show we set up a residents helpline so that locals could contact us about any issues including noise. All complaints received through the hotline were immediately investigated and appropriate action taken."