RESIDENTS of an elderly person's residential block are being kept up through the night as builders work on the roof of Bexley Magistrate's Court.

All the people living at Kingsley Court on Albion Road, Bexleyheath are retired and many living in the front flats facing the main road have had their lives disrupted by late night clattering and workmen shouting the site opposite their homes.

Despite complaints to the court which is across the road and the site manager the noisy works have still been carrying on past 10pm for the last month.

Betty Houghton, 84, who has lived at the complex for 14 years and whose flat is opposite the court, said: "The noise has been causing such a racket.

"I always seem to be able to drift off to sleep and them am awoken by the shouting, the noise of the scaffolding and other general building noise.

"When they were putting all the scaffolding up it was very bad because it took ages and was very loud.

"We were not told when the work was gong to finish by, we just have no idea.

"Most of the people who live in this complex are in their eighties and its not nice opposite a residential home.

"Even when we were told it was going to stop after 10pm, it has still been going on. It is not good."

An 83-year-old woman living in the complex, who didn't want to be named, added: "I don't mind the work going on during the day, that's fine, but not past 10pm opposite somewhere like this.

"It's very unfair and we have just been kept in the dark about what is going on.

"We have heard it might be going on until March. I live opposite the court and it's not right.

"I go to bed at 10pm and it has been keeping me awake and they carry on working, they need more people to get the work done quicker."

A spokesman for HM Courts & Tribunals Service said: "Work is currently being undertaken to replace part of the roof at Bexley Magistrates' Court.

"This work is taking place outside of court opening hours in order to avoid disruption to business.

"We have spoken to the contractors who have undertaken to keep noise to a minimum after 10pm and we apologise for the disturbance caused."