The daily noise and disruption suffered by residents living in the wake of the M25 widening works could get a good deal worse tomorrow.

Residents in the previously sedate Parkfield, in Chorleywood, have for nearly three weeks had to endure deafening noise levels and frequent “earthquakes” as contractors struggle to complete so-called sheet piling work near junction 18.

The work, which involves the driving of large metal sheets deep into the ground with industrial pile driving equipment, has, according to residents, already damaged their homes, with noise levels of up to 100 decibels shattering normal daily routines.

But things may soon get much worse, according to contractors Skanska Balfour Beatty. In a letter sent to residents this morning, the company warned it had harder ground and could not continue “ordinary piling.”

An extraordinary piling hammer will be brought to the site tomorrow between 10am and 5pm, with fears it will bring more noise and even heavier vibrations.

Residents’ spokeswoman Mandy Cooper said: “It’s definitely going to be a lot worse than before. They’ve offered some of us alternative accommodation for the day so it must be bad.

“Our worry is that it will cause further damage to our homes.”

Mrs Cooper explained that she and her neighbours remained anxious about the long-term impact of the work and are in dire need of reassurance from SBB and the Highways Agency about what, if any, compensation they would receive to repair damage, including broken windows, dropped doors, cracked ceilings and possible structural problems.

The Highways Agency has said repeatedly that it is liaising with residents as much as possible and working to minimise distress.