A woman has had to pay nearly £700 after she failed to stop her dogs barking.

Carly Robertson-Blackmoor, of Shaftesbury Road, Carshalton, was prosecuted after a series of complaints about her dogs.

Neighbours, who said they were being “driven crazy” by the noise from her three or four dogs, called in environmental health officers.

Ms Robertson-Blackmoor was served with an abatement notice requiring her to stop the noise nuisance and, when the noise continued, was given a £100 fixed penalty. However, she is said to have ignored the penalty and was taken to Sutton Magistrates Court.

Ms Robertson-Blackmoor was found guilty in her absence of failing to comply with the abatement notice and was fined £350, with £300 costs and a victim’s surcharge of £15.

Councillor Colin Hall, Sutton Council’s executive member for environment and climate change, said: “An irresponsible dog owner can make their neighbour’s lives a misery and that is why we have to take firm action when they do not cooperate or simply ignore the problem.”