NEIGHBOURS of a Helmshore farm were left at the mercy of two barking sheepdogs day and night, magistrates heard.

People living on farmland around Park Road eventually petitioned Rossendale Borough Council after suffering from sleepless nights for weeks, the Reedley court was told.

Environmental health wardens visited the area and found two sheepdogs tied up at either end of a trailer body and issued farmer Martin Taylor with an abatement notice.

This failed to have any effect and Taylor, of Grane Road, Haslingden, was hauled before the courts by the borough council.

But Taylor’s solicitor, Sara Lyall, said for neighbours who chose to live near a working farm it was a case of ‘buyer beware’ as the dogs had been kept solely to help him manage his 500-plus sheep and cattle.

Taylor admitted failing to comply with an abatement notice and was fined £400 with £350 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

An identical charge against his father Edward Taylor, also of Grane Road, which he denied, was dropped.

Sarah Blackwell, prosecuting on behalf of the council, said the neighbours’ petition was presented in late April.

The abatement notice, requiring the dogs to be moved, or placed somewhere inaudible to residents, was issued on May 26.

But when a council officer returned on July 22 the dogs remained and the barking problem had persisted.

Gail Ensworth, of nearby Hill End Farm, said: “We have been plagued by the dogs day and night.

"Me and my family are regularly woken up by the dogs barking.”

Ms Lyall said the sheepdogs, which were regarded solely as working dogs and not family pets, had now been rehomed in Barnsley.

She added: “My view is that all that these two gentlemen were trying to do was run a business.

"Their business has been severely affected by the loss of the dogs.”