All-night parties with loud music left one new mum struggling to live her life.

In a special interview the woman, Katie, who wished to remain anonymous, described how difficult life had become.

As the country entered lockdown, people were forced to stay home and she explained how her neighbours started to hold parties with music blasting through the night.

Not only did she have night feeds to contend with but the constant noise would keep the family awake all night.

She said: “It took a toll on me mentally. I couldn’t give my children my time. It got to the point were there was going to be an argument in the street.”

The noisy neighbours would have music blaring from 10pm until 4am and Katie just didn’t know what else to do.

Once she had made contact with Remedi they were able to act as a mediator of sorts and remove the blame culture.

The team helped explain the impact this was having on other people's lives and help to resolve the issue.

Katie added: “We can sleep though the night now.

“Just having the sessions helped show I wasn’t just complaining, it was impacting us. I wasn’t a party-pooper.

“It is worth trying; it might not work but it is worth a try.”

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, who commissions Remedi in Cumbria, said: “It was really moving to hear the experiences of Katie.

“As a society we are beginning to move away from the idea that every indiscretion should be dealt with by the police and now smaller acts of vandalism, anti-social behaviour etc., can be dealt with restoratively if both parties agree.

“Restorative justice won’t be the right answer in every case but in some it is a good option to avoid criminalising young people for first or relatively minor offences.

“Neither should it be viewed as a ‘soft option,’ sometimes it is tougher to face up to your offence and the victim, to accept responsibility for your own actions, than it is to face a magistrates' court.

“Of course serious crimes must go through the traditional justice system but restorative justice can also play a part in this, providing answers to the victim or the victim’s family and the perpetrator getting a better understanding about how their acts have affected someone else.

“Restorative justice is a really beneficial option and I know that it can help both victims to recover and perpetrators to prevent further crime.”

David Bates, manager of restorative justice service Remedi, said: “Restorative justice can be a powerful tool that victims can use to get answers to questions only the offender could answer, or safely express to those causing the harm the impact of the crimes upon them and their families.

“It’s a confidential, free-to-use service and we very much welcome victims contacting us if they wish to learn more, thus enabling them to make an informed choice.”