TWO sufferers of the mysterious “hum” that has been heard across Purbeck say they are sceptical about a new view on its source.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the low-pitched drone has been causing some very real headaches across the district, other parts of Dorset and in countries around the world.

It got so serious that in February council environmental chiefs held a meeting for people to report their experiences.

Now, an audiology expert is working on a pilot project to help sufferers become less distressed and agitated by the hum.

Dr David Baguley says that only a third of cases can be attributed to some environmental source, the rest being down to many sufferers’ hearing becoming over-sensitive, thanks to them listening out for the hum.

He told the BBC: “The more people focus on the noise, the more anxious and fearful they get, the more the body responds by amplifying the sound, and that causes even more upset and distress.”

But Swanage’s Robert Owen, who has conducted extensive research into the noise, and his wife Janet, only partially agree.

Mr Owen said: “It physically vibrates windows and doors. It will reverberate.”

Wife Janet added: “I had all the tests and a brain scan. It’s noise and vibration and in a quiet moment it’s bad. I’ve been hearing it for 10 years now. I do agree that the more you clock into it the more you hear it.”

Dr Baguley’s trial, funded by the Department for Environment and the Department of Health, uses psychology and relaxation techniques to help sufferers become less distressed.

He said the initial results were encouraging and said “there is hope and there is potentially help”.