PENSIONERS have urged council bosses to ban productions at a school after claiming the noise of Spice Girls songs and other performances is keeping them awake.

Some 25 elderly residents in Shakespeare Way, Blackburn, said St Wilfrid's CE High School and Technology College's application to renew its licence to put on shows is not what they "really, really want."

Today the school, which has 1,600 pupils and opened its new hall in 2002 as part of major rebuilding work, said all performances finished by 10.30pm and it was willing to discuss the complaints.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for citizen and consumer rights, Coun Frank Connor said: "When awarding a licence, the sub committee looks at all of the facts, including residents' concerns."

The pensioners claim the noise generated from Spice Girl renditions, practice sessions, concerts, and school presentation evenings has at times been "unbearable."

The application, to be heard by the council's licensing committee tomorrow, would allow a host of evening events ranging from dinner dances to pantomimes to be performed between 7pm and 10.30pm.

Agnes Nicolay organised the 25-signature petition and has told the committee something must be done about the "unreasonable noise level" experienced both night and day The 63-year-old said: "During the school music practices, the doors of the main hall facing us are always left wide open.

"We hear every word they are singing and the noise level of the drums and trumpets and any other instruments are so loud that it makes our bungalows vibrate.

"I myself have to turn up the TV volume on full in order for me to be able to hear the TV.

"It is both day and night. They use amplifiers which are so loud.

"You can hear them singing things like Spice Girl's What you really really want.' It is dreadful.

"But it is the evenings that are the worst. Even when they give presentations to parents you will suddenly hear a loud Yeah' and clapping.

She added: "I have had to cancel going to church on a Sunday because the noise went on so late the night before.

"We are all fed up of this. We want the application to be rejected or assurances the school will install sound proof equipment and keep the doors shut."

Responding, school bursar Rita Burch said: "The school does not have excessive noise and we are limited to the times of performances which have a 10.30pm cut off and make sure everyone has left by 11.15pm."

She added: "We have consulted with the neighbours over their concerns. We do not have a close door policy and are always willing to listen and discuss with them the issues that arise."