A MOTOR RACING circuit has been warned after a "schoolboy error" led to it breaching noise levels at a recent rally.

Croft Circuit, near Darlington, has an agreement with Richmondshire District Council to report all noise data, and to make sure the loudest categories of noise – N1 and N2, which range from 86 to 95 decibels per hour - are not permitted before noon on a Sunday.

However the authority found that at a rally weekend on October 18 and 19 last year the noise monitoring scheme failed and no data was produced for the weekend.

It also found that the noise category was originally predicted to be at N2 – between 86 and 93 decibels per hour – and as racing took place before noon on Sunday, October 19, this was also in breach of the agreement.

Members of Richmondshire District Council’s planning committee said that circuit manager Mike Cantelo would be sent a strongly-worded letter, but that no further action would be taken.

Chief planning officer Peter Featherstone said: “The circuit's noise equipment had been sent away to be recalibrated but when it was returned it had not been done properly, and the battery failed."

Chairman of the committee Cllr Jane Parlour said she was disappointed the “schoolboy error” was made by the high profile circuit.

But Cllr Ken Lambert defended the manager, saying he was “up against it.”

“The equipment had been sent off to experts to be recalibrated – when it comes back you assume that it is set correctly. You can’t blame Croft Circuit for that,” he said.

Mr Cantelo wrote to assure councillors “steps have been taken to minimise the risk of a repeated breach due to incorrect predictions or equipment failure.”