An out-of-hours service aimed at addressing neighbourhood noise nuisance will return this month.

Operation Balsam, funded by the University of Hertfordshire and jointly operated by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the police, will run from Saturday, September 21 until Saturday, October 5.

The service will see additional noise patrols in the area from 8pm to 2am.

The initiative coincides with the start of the academic year at the university and aims to raise awareness of the impact of antisocial noise.

The launch of Operation Balsam (Image: Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council) Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, executive member for the environment, said: "Operation Balsam is for the benefit of the whole community, including students, helping them to understand the impact that noise can have on their neighbours."

Claire Hartridge, deputy dean of students at the university, added: "We have jointly run Operation Balsam for 16 years, and during that time the number of complaints about noise nuisance has consistently reduced.

"I think that is testament to how well our communities do integrate."

PC Alanna Pearce from the university policing team, said: "We know that this is an exciting time of year for students and Operation Balsam is there to make sure that they can still have fun without disrupting their neighbours."

Residents can report noise concerns to the police or council.