FURIOUS residents are set for a court battle against one of Britain's biggest building firms amid claims their luxury apartments failed to meet building regulations.

Owners of six flats at the Coach House Mews development at Ferndown claim Bryant Homes did not provide adequate soundproofing in their upmarket homes.

Bryant admit there are problems and are attempting to resolve the situation, but the residents are far from happy, with some insisting the firm buy back their homes at their current value.

Since moving into their lavish two-bedroomed flats which they bought for between £170,000 and £220,000 almost a year ago, they say noise levels have been unbearable.

One couple even moved out because they could not stand the din.

Retired businessman Keith Hewett, 56, who lives at Holt Place, a three-storey block, said: "When people are pulling their curtains it sounds like a machine gun going off. You can tell when the neighbours are on the toilet, opening their kitchen drawers, turning on switches and even having intimate moments.

"At first it was quite funny but over the months it has made our lives a misery. My health has suffered because of the stress of everything."

Mr Hewett and fellow members of the Holt Place Action Group commissioned an expert to carry out acoustic tests after Bryant, they claimed, dismissed their concerns. Their solicitor, Stephen Cutmore, of the Bourne-mouth-based Isaacs Partnership, alleges: "The results gathered showed that the sound insulation is well below standard and proved that it comes nowhere near meeting the minimum requirement in the Building Regulations.

"The only solution the expert could recommend was the complete removal of the floor screed and the internal walls and their replacement after the incorporation of suitable sound insulation materials."

But residents claim the acoustic sound matting Bryant is installing in some of the other flats in a bid to rectify the problem is a makeshift solution.

Mr Cutmore alleged Bryant had "not put their cards on the table" and added: " Court proceedings will be issued in the fairly near future."

Technical director for Bryant Homes Chris Irwin said: "Although properties were constructed within guidelines approved by East Dorset District Council building control, there were excessive noise transmission levels recorded in certain positions within some of the apartments.

"Corrective measures remain required to identified properties in a further three blocks of apartments - Ripley Court, Burley Court and Holt Place.

"Work is currently in progress at Ripley Court and is planned to be carried out in Burley Court in mid-May. Bryant is awaiting the go-ahead from some residents within Holt Place in order to timetable and complete the remaining works."

Paul Carter of Dorset Trading Standards confirmed he was currently investigating.