High-level talks between army officials and environmental officers are to take place after villagers' complaints about noise from an army airfield reached unprecedented levels.

More than 200 villagers living near Dalton Barracks at Abingdon have signed a petition calling for a stop to motorcycle racing and other noisy events being held at the former airfield.

The hottest weekend of the year was ruined for people living in Cothill, Dry Sandford and Wootton, when motorcycle and car racing rallies took place on the airfield runway. The noise reached villages miles away and sparked fury among local residents.

An investigation is under way.

David Stevens, environmental protection officer for the Vale district council, said: "Apparently there was a breeze carrying the noise further. There was low cloud cover on Saturday, so noise was bouncing off the clouds.

"It meant complaints were coming from quite a distance away. I don't recall ever having had to deal with this size of problem before." Maj Roger Walls, station officer at Dalton Barracks, said an inquiry would be launched.

He said: "I received many phone calls from residents and have taken on board what was said."

Event organiser and deputy clerk of the course Nino Pezzini apologised for the noise.

He said noise levels were monitored during the event, because it was regulated by the sport's governing body, the Auto Cycle Union.