TWO Bury firms say they could be driven out of business after receiving frequent complaints from a neighbour.

Sharon Hogarth, who helps to run Aardvark Automotive with her son Tom in Lowercroft Business Park, says they have received a number of complaints from a neighbour in Lowercroft Road saying there is too much noise and disruption when customers pick up their cars.

The garage opens from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, but sometimes has to open later to allow customers to pick up their vehicles.

The firm is applying to extend its opening hours to 7.30pm on weekdays, and to 1.30pm on Saturdays.

Mrs Hogarth has run the business for around 15 months, but she says the complaints are putting off customers and could threaten the future of their business.

The 57-year-old said: “We have had so many complaints, to the extent that it is detrimental to our business and has lost us many customers.

Mrs Hogarth, who lives in Tottington, says the garage is around 300 yards from the nearby property, and she thinks it unlikely it would disturb the resident.

She added: “We sometimes have to stay open until nearly seven o’clock so a customer can collect their car.

“We are not working — we are just waiting for them to pick their car up.

“It is impossible for them to hear noise from where we are.”

Bosses at curtain manufacturer Allure, also based on the business park, say they have faced similar issues.

John Hollingsworth, general manager, added: “We need longer working hours to keep up with our main customers.

“As it stands we will have to move or risk losing orders. You can throw as many staff at it as you like, but we need the opening hours.”

Staff at Lowercroft Road Educational Day Nursery and Glas Craft UK, also on the business site, are supporting the planning application for longer opening hours but two people so far have formally objected to the plan.

The consultation period was set to end today.

The neighbour could not be reached for comment.