A singer who staged morale boosting performances outside Bromley home in lockdown was threatened with prosecution after a disgruntled neighbour complained to the Council.

Sarah Flotel, 40, began serenading the Chatterton Road community on Saturdays after all of her gigs were cancelled due to the pandemic, with neighbours taking the street to dance at a social distance.

But some found the songs of Vera Lynn, Amy Winehouse and Ella Fitzgerald too much to bear, as an anonymous complaint was followed by a stern letter from the local authority.

Ms Flotel, who runs a gardening business named Peace, Love and Plants, said: “The first week I sung on the front garden, the police came at 9.30pm and advised me that they'd received a call.

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“They thanked me for keeping spirits up, saw that everyone was distanced in their families and then left.

“VE day was particularly lovely. I sung some slow numbers at the end and people were partner dancing in the street. 

“One of my opposite neighbours warned me that her tenants (next door) didn't like the noise - she apologized and said that's why she wasn't out dancing.

“To be honest I found it funny that I should be pre-ASBO for singing Vera Lynn, Amy Winehouse and Ella Fitzgerald - a Smooth 102.2FM sort of playlist!

“People are different and I have certainly come across neighbours who experience music very differently to me!”

Sarah brought an end to her performances, facing a potentially unlimited fine the Council prosecuted her for making a continued nuisance.

For now she is saving her singing for her home studio, preparing for her first original release. 

A spokesperson for Bromley Council said: “Bromley Council is proud of the service it provides to its residents in helping them resolve neighbour disputes such as noise nuisance. 

"We cannot discuss individual cases but as noise nuisance is a statutory nuisance and councils are legally bound to serve abatement notices where there is nuisance, with breaches of these notices being a criminal offence, then this is a serious matter. 

"When a noise nuisance is reported, we do need to investigate, with the letter correctly outlining that the Council is “duty bound” to do this. 

"This includes contacting the person at the address alleged to be giving rise to the complaint.

"It is unfortunate that sometimes letters are sent to people who have not caused a problem due to potential mistakes as to the source of the noise.

"This is why all such letters acknowledge that source addresses are occasionally misidentified and should this happen the recipient of the communication is urged to get in touch accordingly.”