The blaring horns of South Central's new trains are causing misery to residents living next to West Worthing railway station.

People in St Dunstans Road have complained to the rail operator that the new klaxons make them "jump out of their skin".

Janette Cross said: "I live right behind West Worthing station and if I'm sitting in my garden trying to relax the noise is unbearable.

"I have lived here for 11 years and this is the first time the railway has disturbed my sleep or leisure time."

Mrs Cross said she had complained several times to South Central and the environmental health department.

She said: "I have had comments from colleagues that the horns can be heard as far away as Adur Avenue in Worthing, near the A27.

"As much as I appreciate the need for safety, I cannot believe the noise level is necessary."

Carrie Preston, also of St Dunstans Road, said: "It wasn't so bad with the old trains. The new ones are really bad. It's very loud.

"I've got a little girl aged three and when she's in the garden it frightens her. I don't understand why they have to be so loud."

There have been numerous complaints about the noise of the horns since the first of South Central's £856 million fleet of Electrostar 377 trains entered service in December.

Residents in Highdown Road, Hove, complained in February.

And children in the Seven Dials area of Brighton protested in March.

Keith Chamberlain, an environmental health manager at Worthing Borough Council, said: "We have had one complaint but we know it's an issue because it's being discussed at the environmental health officers' pollution group.

"It seems to be a problem west of Brighton, just on the new trains."

A South Central spokesman said: "Our position remains unchanged.

"We are not in a position to lower the noise levels of the horns. That has to be done by the health and safety people."

He said the decibel levels of the new klaxons were the same as on the old trains.