A bid to bring back supercar experience days to the outskirts of Bovingdon could skid to a halt as the planning inspectorate considers its verdict after an appeal hearing.

Residents near Runways Farm, Upper Bourne End Lane, had submitted dozens of complaints about the noise from motoring activities taking place on the site.

In January companies operating on the site were served with an enforcement notice in a bid to stop the motor activities currently taking place there but Cathy Leahy appealed this decision from Dacorum Borough Council in February.

On Tuesday, September 9 and Wednesday, September 10, the planning inspector heard representations from residents and legal representatives for Mrs Leahy, who owns Runway Farm.

Chris Guerin, whose property backs on to Bovingdon Airfield, told the appeal hearing: "I am disgusted with the constant screeching of tyres.

"I would say you are going from peace and quiet in the garden to a 900cc motorbike screaming past you.

"I know, in my garden, I can hear the birds tweeting. But when it starts, all I can hear is screaming engines."

Another resident, Paul Lewis said: "It is a very disturbing noise to hear when you are at home. But it is also the frequency of the sound.

"There is no respite from it. You end up having to go out or being home and walking around with earplugs."

Runways Farm offers a number of different driving experiences and is also used by the emergency services to train their drivers.

Bernadette Hillman, planning partner at Debenhams Ottaway solicitors told the Watford Observer that plans had been drawn up to reduce noise if the appeal was accepted.

She said: "There is a strong demand for these activities from a wide range of the general public as well as commercial businesses and government agencies and the use of the site benefits the local economy.

"For everyone it is a question of drawing a line in the right place to ensure that there is no significant adverse impact. Mrs Leahy hasn't turned a blind eye to the issues raised by concerned residents.

"She has put forward a mitigation strategy to dampen the track with a permanent irrigation system, and a detailed and comprehensive noise management plan.

"In the event that the planning inspector allows the appeal, this will safeguard the future of the businesses operating from the site, whilst protecting the residents from noise nuisance."

George King, acoustic expert and part of the team representing Mrs Leahy, confirmed that noise tests had been carried out to determine how loud the motorsport activities are.

However, these tests were disputed by another local resident, Brian Walton, who said: "It seems to me, that the most important fact to be considered is not the noise levels recorded in the report, but the effect it is having on the people living in the vicinity of this activity."

The planning inspectorate is expected to reach its decision in early November.