Singapore - The incessant din from pile drivers, hacking and demolition work at Singapore construction sites has triggered mounting complaints of deafening noise, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a published report on Monday.

Complaints last year reached 9,228, nearly double the 4,953 in 2005.

About 6,380 worksites dotted the city-state in 2007, a 30 per cent hike from 5,020 the previous year, said the data in The Straits Times.

Noise limits are imposed only for weekday nights, Sundays and public holidays.

Residents complain that while worksites are quiet at night, they are deafening during the day.

Housewife Christine Goh Roske said she has to leave her house in the day to avoid hearing three jackhammers banging away at the construction site next door.

"I feel as if I'm being chased out of my own home," she was quoted as saying. (dpa)