Many of us have played in "nocturnes", those petanque tournaments which start around 19h and go on well into the early hours. Fuelled by pastis and crepes they can be great entertainment on a warm summer's evening. But often the results are fought out until after midnight and the noise of the players and the click of the boules can disturb neighbours.
The maire of Decazeville (Aveyron) has issued a decree banning all such sport from 11pm to 8am.
Naturally exceptions are made for village fetes and official competitions. But the weekly nocturnes run by local clubs could be seriously curtailed by the ban, probably to the relief of neighbours.
