But Caroline Cartwright refuses to ease-up on her love-making with husband Steve after dropping eight dress sizes.

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"I used to be in a size 30 dress and now I'm in a size 18. I've lost six stones, it must be the amount of sex we are having, it's good exercise," she said.

But after a string of complaints, the marathon romps have caused council chiefs to slap a noise abatement order on Caroline and Steve to stop them from shouting and screaming during their late night and early morning love-making.

For two years residents have been getting their knickers in a twist over the prolonged noise.

The lengthy escapades have led to over 25 visits from the police and the pair have been arrested twice for causing a nuisance to neighbours and people passing by their open bedroom window.

Police have monitored the situation and council environmental officers have frequently measured the sound level coming from the couple's upstairs bedroom.

But the couple defended their actions and spoke about their antics.
From their terraced home Caroline said: "I must admit I do scream and make lots of noise when we are having sex, but I can't help it.

Caroline, from Concord, Washington, added: "I removed the bed's headboard when a neighbour complained. That stopped the banging on the wall but I can't stop screaming.

"Apparently I'm so loud people think I'm getting murdered. The police said they have called around because they have feared for my safety.

"We are not using whips or anything like that, we are just making love -admittedly, we do it with quite a bit of noise.

"We have had threats and people shouting at us when we go outside because of the noise we make. We have upset a number of people, we understand even the postman made a complaint to the police."

Caroline, 47, who is unemployed, added: "Before Christmas last year we were arrested twice. Once we were cautioned and the second time the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case because they said our love-making was at night.

"Once one neighbour recorded our noises and we had to go to the Sunderland City Council offices at the Civic Centre to listen to the tape. I couldn't stop laughing, I really couldn't take it serious and I'm sure that is why a noise abatement order was taken out against us.

"It prevents me from screaming and shouting at such a level so that I'm not a nuisance.

"We have been told to close the windows and doors when we do it but it is hot at the moment so we have to leave the window open."

"The neighbours keep complaining and we have even had our car vandalised causing £2,000 worth of damage. People have thrown beer cans and pizza up at the window when they hear us. We enjoy sex and that's all there is to it."

Steve, 46, a factory worker, said: "We have been married for 24 years and we still have sex all the time. I would say that is a good thing, I bet there are not that many couples who have been together for as long as we have who can say that.

"We like having sex, there's nothing wrong with that."

But neighbours complain that the pair sometimes leave the bedroom window open - but even when it is shut they can still hear them having sex.

Sunderland City Council and Northumbria Police said in a joint statement: "Neighbours have complained to both Sunderland City Council and Northumbria Police of nuisance behaviour from the occupiers of the property.

"We have investigated the complaints and have attempted to solve the problem both formally and informally.

"Due to ongoing concerns, the council is now considering the most appropriate form of action to prevent further disturbance to local residents."

The spokeswoman declined to say what action was being considered.