swansea air raid siren
Residents in Swansea (pictured is Swansea Bay and The Mumbles) have been woken up by a mysterious air raid siren noise
A ghostly sound of an air raid siren has been waking people in hundreds of homes in a city that was heavily bombed by the Nazis 75 years ago.

Noise abatement officials launched an investigation into the mysterious noise which has been heard more frequently across Swansea, South Wales, in recent months, but admit it cannot be traced.

Reports of the wailing sound have stretched back for more than a year, with many residents in area of Townhill comparing it to a 'war or old factory siren'.

The strange sound, which has also been compared to an old factory alarm or air raid siren (file image), has been reportedly going on for more than a year
swansea bombing
The city was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe for three straight days in the 1941 Swansea Blitz as the German's tried to cripple Britain's coal export
One mother, Debbie Leyshon, 46, said: 'Everyone around here has heard it around dawn and into the early morning. It sounds just like a siren you hear in the war films.

'It always sounds like it is away in the distance but loud enough to wake you up if you are a light sleeper.'

The city was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe for three straight days in the 1941 Swansea Blitz as the German's tried to cripple Britain's coal exports.

A total of 230 people were killed and more than 400 were injured, with the huge fires caused by bombed oil refineries visible 75 miles away.


People have taken to social media to share their own experiences of the strange noises.

Stella Elphick said: 'Been going on for at least the last two summers and through the winter. Day and night.'

Pete Rose added: 'It drives my mother insane and I often hear it when visiting her,' while Damian Holt said: 'Every morning around 4.30/5am till 6am or 7am most mornings.'

Debbie St Peter claims the noise has become so 'annoying' that she can't sleep.

And Sian Richards said: 'That noise has been tormenting me since the beginning of year.'

There are a variety of theories as to what it is and where it is coming from, such as old factories or an end of shift siren from the council depot.
swansea bombing WWII
A total of 230 people were killed and more than 400 were injured in the bombing, with the huge fires caused by bombed oil refineries visible 75 miles away
Some have said it is coming from a pub while others say it is coming from the Cwmdu Industrial Estate. Another suggested it was trains sounding their horn as they pass through a tunnel.

Another theory is that it is a fog siren coming from the lighthouse a The Mumbles, but so far no definite source has been pinpointed.

Swansea Council says it is looking into the sounds and is appealing for anyone who may have heard it and have information to come forward.

A spokesman for the authority said yesterday: 'Investigations into a possible source are on-going, but we'd still ask members of the public to contact our noise pollution team if they have any information that could be helpful.'