It is billed as an edge-of-your-seat experience, but the Hair Raiser ride at Luna Park has left its neighbours white-knuckled for all the wrong reasons.

The 37-metre tall ride opened a year ago without proper approval, prompting an outcry from neighbours over its "visually offensive" height and threats from planning authorities to have it pulled down.

Noise factor: Nearby residents say screaming from the Hair Raiser ride at Luna Park, in Sydney, is disturbing their sleep. Credit:James Alcock

Some residents say the Hair Raiser lights up their apartments and triggers screams audible for hundreds of metres, leaving them sleep deprived and stricken by headaches.

But operators say rides that "thrill patrons" with sudden movements – and elicit screams – have been integral to Luna Park since it opened 80 years ago.