'My neighbour's kids screech and fight in the garden until 9pm – my son can't sleep'

A frustrated woman has revealed how her neighbours' noisy children are stopping her son from sleeping at night.

Taking to Mumsnet, the fed-up mum revealed her next-door neighbour's four kids – ages six to fifteen – will take to the garden to "scream, screech and cry" late into the evening. She asked others whether it would be fair to ask for some peace and quiet.

She said: "Am I being unreasonable to ask neighbours children and teens to keep the noise down in the garden?"

She added: "When they are in the garden, they play football but play against the youngest and wind him up, so he's constantly screaming, screeching and crying. When the screeching isn't going on, it's football chants at full volume and a lot of shouting between them and constant fights."

The noise not only affects bedtime for her son but also makes it unpleasant for her to use her own garden in the summer months. The woman continued: "They will be in the garden until 9pm and can be out early at the weekends and it can keep our son up and make bedtime so difficult, especially when it's warmer and we need to have the window open a smidge.

"Am I being unreasonable to ask their parents to get them to keep the noise down? Especially as it's affecting bedtime with our son and making our garden unbearable as there's not a moment of silence if they are out as they are constantly fighting."

The question divided opinion, with one person writing: "Parents can't win. They're criticised if their kids are inside on screens all day, criticised if their kids are outside playing in good weather."

But another sided with the original poster, chiming in: "Don't be silly. It's eminently possible to play outside without screaming constantly. Don't you teach your children to be considerate of neighbours? ".

Another was not so sympathetic, however. "They are in their own garden and going indoors at 9pm. You are being precious."

Meanwhile, someone else agreed: "9pm is a reasonable time to come indoors during the summer months. Far preferable to adults who set out at that time firing up hot tubs and chatting over loud music."

Some commenters suggested a "friendly chat" might resolve the issue. However, one commenter cynically said: "You can ask the parents but if they're anything like the families around me, they'll tell you to f**k off."

Another person offered a more measured view. They said: "While it's annoying, reporting it to the council won't achieve anything other than to create bad feelings between you. It's also a cowardly move used to avoid 'confrontation', even when the neighbours are reasonable people (they'll know who made the complaint).

"Maybe you can ask them to wrap up the outside play/noise earlier to help with your little one's bedtime, but be reasonable about the time. For example, asking them to stop playing at 6pm isn't OK. Just remember, one day your little one will be screeching in the garden with their friends (even if you think they won't!) Don't burn any relationship you have with your neighbours."