A couple running a small-holding near Haverfordwest have been fined for allowing their cockerels and other fowl to break a Noise Abatement Notice.

Andrew and Lynda Baker of Wiltax Rose were each fined £200 and ordered to pay costs totalling £597.79 when they appeared before magistrates in Haverfordwest on Monday.

The court heard that the couple were served a Noise Abatement Notice by Pembrokeshire County Council in July, 2013 after complaints by a neighbour over excessive cockerel crowing.

Magistrates were told however that despite the Notice, the problem continued and the Council’s Pollution Control Inspector, Richard Thomas, carried out noise monitoring from the bedroom of the neighbour’s house.

On one day in August last year, he recorded ten crows in a two-minute and shortly afterwards another ten crows in a one minute period.

On another occasion he recorded incessant crowing in a 1hr 45 minute period from 7.01 am from four cockerels in the garden of the 10 acre small-holding, close to the border of the neighbour’s house.

The Bakers, who admitted charges of failing to comply with the Noise Abatement Notice, were also each ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge.

Last month the couple were ordered to pay a total of £1,700 in fines and costs for breaching a Noise Abatement Notice by allowing their two dogs to persistently bark.