ANGRY residents living beside Victoria Park say the summer s music festivals are making their lives a misery. Neighbours in Waterside Close, Bow, who overlook the south side of the park claim they are living inside a boom box and are forced to keep th

ANGRY residents living beside Victoria Park say the summer's music festivals are making their lives a misery.

Neighbours in Waterside Close, Bow, who overlook the south side of the park claim they are "living inside a boom box" and are forced to keep their windows and doors firmly closed to shut out the noise from the live festivals.

They have been complaining to Tower Hamlets council's environmental health officers for the past seven years but fear the problems could get even worse as the park gets ready to host three weekends of live music in a row.

Jimmy Brennan, 63, is leaving his flat this weekend because of the Lovebox festival.

He said: "It is making our lives a misery. The noise is just unbearable. We have it going on all the time, as even when the show finishes there is the noise of the trucks as they clear up.

"The council wants to make it more than a council venue because of the money it can make but it is at everybody else's expense.

"I think the festivals should be stopped altogether or at least shifted towards Hackney Marshes."

Neighbour Sally Rand added: "We all have lovely homes. Why should we have to go out because of that music? It is like living inside a boom box."

This month Victoria Park will be hosting the three-night Lovebox weekender, followed by the two-night High Voltage festival and then another three-night event for the Field Day Concert.

In August there is the dance LED festival and then the Underage Festival.

Bow East ward councillor Marc Francis said: "It is evident that the major events team views Victoria Park as little more than a cash cow that can be milked mercilessly to deliver an outcome for the council.

"The grotesque exploitation of Victoria Park is an absolute scandal."

But council bosses insist that the money raised by staging the festivals pays for "popular free community events", including Paradise Gardens and the November firework display, and that the influx of party-goers into the borough boosts businesses.

A spokeswoman said: "We understand that for some residents, large-scale events in Victoria Park can be disruptive and we do everything we can to minimise this.

"This includes having additional officers working to make sure the festivals are running well, licensing conditions are met and noise levels are monitored throughout.