A SAFETY device to warn railway workers when a train is coming has been making life a misery for nearby residents.

The noisy machine, called a Tows or Yodel Alarm, has been placed on the track on the edge of Aycliffe Village.

It is switched on whenever workers are on the line and emits an intermittent noise, which sounds like a heartbeat. But, when a train is approaching, the noise becomes deafening.

Rail chiefs are hoping to find a solution to the problem and have agreed to disconnect the machine until a meeting between all parties has been arranged.

Residents at a farm next to the device say it was erected without warning, and has often been left on all day.

They say workers sometimes finish work without switching it off, and they have to contact Railtrack to stop the noise.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said: "The noise is tremendous. Even with triple glazing, you can hear it in every room in the house.

"I understand there must be safety for the men working on the lines, but there must be other ways round it, without siting it outside living accommodation."

Local councillors Bill Blenkinsopp and John Moran have contacted environmental health officers at Sedgefield Borough Council, and they say a meeting will be held next month.

Coun Blenkinsopp said: "I could not live with that next to my house - I don't think anybody could.

"In this day and age, surely they can come up with something better than that, because nobody should have to put up with that type of noise."

A spokeswoman for Railtrack said: "There is to be a meeting in the next month between ourselves, the environmental health department and contractors.

"We will look at the best options to continue to protect the safety of our track workers, but also to cause as little disturbance as possible to residents.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and hope that the issues can be resolved at this meeting."