Most villages have church bells. Some have a cockerel that starts far too early in the morning.
Residents living near the A38 have been reporting a loud banging noise coming from a manhole cover on the busy road through the village. According to locals, every time a vehicle passes over it, the cover delivers another enthusiastic BANG! – day and night.
The unwanted roadside drummer has apparently been performing non-stop for weeks, with residents saying the noise is particularly noticeable when larger vehicles pass through the village.
Some locals have joked that they no longer need an alarm clock, while others say they can accurately predict when the next HGV is approaching without even looking out of the window.
Openreach has acknowledged the issue and is understood to be investigating the problem with the aim of getting it repaired.
Until then, residents may have to continue enjoying Kempsey’s newest attraction: “Manhole Cover Live – performing every night from dusk until dawn.”
On the bright side, it’s probably the busiest entertainment venue in the village at the moment, and admission is completely free.
Have you heard the infamous bang? Let us know in the comments. Bonus points if you’ve managed to sleep through it!
