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Video: Why bomb blasts are vital to the war effort

Exclusive by Luke Hollands

The company behind the Essex defence establishment at Shoeburyness says it's doing everything possible to limit noise travelling across the estuary and bothering north Kent residents.

Recent training exercises have prompted complaints from residents angry at the window-rattling blasts but defence firm QinetiQ, which manages the site for the Ministry of Defence has said strict measures are taken to keep noise levels down.

QinetiQ says it tries to limit the impact on residents by using acoustic forecasting and noise modelling to measure wind speed, wind direction, temperature and humidity.

Staff work to a self-imposed limit of 125dB, which is below the statutory limit of 140dB.

Site delivery manager Billy Steele, who is in charge of keeping levels within the restricted limits, said: "Using a series of noise monitors we are able to monitor sound levels on the north Kent coast. We also have our own meteorology station here. We can send up a balloon and gather all the data and it runs off a prediction. We compare the two to see if the noise levels will be acceptable.

"Before we let bombs go we run a test shot to make sure all the predictions are accurate. Our main role is make sure we never breach noise limits, if we breach we will stop all activity. Our team has total control."

Perhaps the most important work undertaken at MoD Shoeburyness is training for bomb disposal troops heading to Afghanistan.

Squadron Leader Dave Parkes is one of the country's most respected bomb disposal instructors and puts troops through their paces at Shoeburyness prior to deployment.

As part of their training they dispose of live ordnance, including everything from IEDs to 1,000lb air-dropped bombs.

Sqn Ldr Parkes said he could sympathise with issues of noise hitting the Kent coast but asked residents to be patient. He said: "I can appreciate the noise but I would ask people to bear with us and bear in mind the training here is vital.

Sqn Ldr Parkes said: "It could well be that our guys finish here on Friday, go on an exercise for theatre and then be out there in a month. It's vital we have people there who can get rid of IEDs."