A high-pitched “siren-like” sound at night has plagued a village for nearly 30 years, residents have claimed.

Bovingdon locals have been left scratching their heads as no one seems to know what is despite numerous people hearing it.

One resident told the Watford Observer: “Some people who live here claim it has been going on for up to 30 years.

“It baffles me how no one knows what the noise is or that no one seems to do anything about it.”

Listen to the sound in the video below recorded on July 5 at 3am.

She added she has heard the sound at different times in the night, such as 3am and 10.30pm. It can be quiet for a few months and then it comes back, she added.

Questions about the noise arose when one person asked a Bovingdon social media group: “Does anyone know what that high-pitched continuous noise was last night? Feel like I've heard it before, like a siren or something.”

Dozens of comments came in with others confirming it has been going on “for years”, with one adding: “I heard it too. Thought I was going mad, I checked my whole house.”  

In a separate post, someone else said: “I heard the now infamous, high-pitched sound this evening for the first time. Around 11.15pm, quite loud and continuous.

“It reminds me of overhead high voltage electrical cables, but of course we don't have any.”

Dacorum Borough Council has been contacted for more information.

Some have said the sound could be a broken boiler, while another person suggested it could be down to tinnitus, although this was quickly dismissed by others.

Another potential explanation offered was a siren for fire brigade volunteers because it “deflates and winds down”.

One person said: “Some klaxon sirens operate by spinning at high speed. It’s a sort of a high-powered whistle.

“When power is removed from the klaxon it spins down in the way you described. Like an old air raid siren I guess.”

A spokesperson from Dacorum Borough Council said: “We do not have a record of any previous complaints in relation to this issue.

"We will, of course, investigate if residents contact us directly with details by emailing ecp@dacorum.gov.uk or online here."