RESIDENTS living near new traffic islands in Corsham say their lives are being made a misery from noise and vibration.

People living in Valley Road claim the vibration is causing cracks in the walls of their homes. In addition to the rumbling whenever a car or lorry crosses the thermoplastic surface, the vibration is so severe it shakes their homes, causing glasses to move on shelves, pictures to fall off the walls and bathroom tiles to come loose.

"When a big lorry goes past the whole house shakes," said Frances Potter, 67.

She said the problem with vibration only started when the crossings went in late last year."It shakes the bed. The noise starts at three in the morning when the first lorries begin thundering along the road and builds to a crescendo during the day."

Photographer, Glen Wood, also of Elm Grove, has cracks in the walls of his home. He said the vibrations also cause lightbulbs to blow.

Pat Sparkes of Mayo Close, said she is regularly awoken by vibrations from passing lorries, and cannot leave her back door open because of the noise.

Residents fear it will get worse when construction begins on the new railway station.

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said it had commissioned independent experts to look at noise and vibration. "Appropriate action will be taken based on the independent experts' report," he said.