A mystery noise has forced a woman living in a block of 10 flats to spend nights in a £50-a-night bed and breakfast.

Deborah Atsoparthis, 54, of Manor Court, High Street, Kidlington, said the noise kept her awake for months until she finally lost patience and started spending nights away last month.

She said: “I’d had enough – I was absolutely shattered.

“I was so tired I couldn’t even get myself to work. It was ridiculous. I’m trying to stay positive, but it’s not nice. It’s frightening and disturbing.”

But Ms Atsoparthis said the noise, which began in September last year, sounded like a vibrating washing machine and was nearly loud enough to block out the sound of traffic.

She claims it is damaging the walls and tiles in her flat.

At least one other flat in the block has been affected by the noise.

But Cherwell District Council has carried out an investigation and believes the sound is within an “acceptable noise range”.

Ms Atsoparthis has taken to staying at a B&B when the problem gets particularly bad and has also been prescribed sleeping pills by her doctor.

However, structural engineers, plumbers and environmental health officers from the council have all failed to locate the origin of the noise, while only one other resident living at Manor Court appears to suffer in the same way.

Neighbour Kath Room, 37, who works for Oxford University, said: “It’s not as bad in my flat – it’s definitely worse in Deborah’s.

“It’s so bad I don’t know how she can sleep, and nobody seems to be taking it seriously. It’s very distressing.”

The council confirmed it had visited Manor Court following complaints made by Ms Atsoparthis.

Spokesman Tony Ecclestone said: “We investigated what was initially received as a noise compliant. Further inquiries led to the emphasis of the allegations changing towards vibration and it was suggested that the vibration may be due to a structural problem.

“We carried out intensive investigations in January and February. These included visual inspections of the property and neighbouring flats, and the installation of noise monitoring equipment.

“These did not indicate anything out of the acceptable noise range or show evidence of noise arising out of inappropriate activities by other occupants.

“There is no definitive objective standard for nuisance noise. Noise nuisance is assessed by considering the effect of the problem noise on a notional ‘average’ person, taking into account the volume of noise, the time of day when the noise occurs, how often and for how long the noise goes on, the nature of the area where the incidents are occurring and convention.

“In this particular case we invited the affected party to record the sound they found annoying. Despite a large number of recordings being made, none of them captured evidence of noise which was audible.

“We have carried out exhaustive inquiries and are satisfied there is no evidence to suggest the alleged problem is due to domestic noise or antisocial behaviour.

“We cannot justify taking any further action.”

Ms Atsoparthis, who has lived at Manor Court for two-and-a-half years, said she had not been told no further action would be taken.

She added: “It’s absolutely bizarre. We have tried everything. I don’t know where to go with it anymore. I have made so many calls to the council, I have explored every avenue.

“I just want my life back.”

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk