The annual summer Proms which has been taking place in London's Royal Albert Hall since 1895, is a musical institution beloved by many.

But not so much, apparently, by the Health & Safety brigade.

Officials there are demanding that musicians turn the volume down during their performances in case the noise damages people's hearing.

They say that, under the newly introduced EU laws, maximum noise level must now not be more than 140 decibels - about the same level as a gunshot or firecracker.

Health and safety is reportedly to be really pulling out the stops by telling performers to cut out the soaring crescendos and turn down the volume on the trumpets.

They fear the flautists' delicate hearing may be harmed if they're sitting too close to the trumpets, so they have had the brass neck to insist on the spacing being changed.

The BBC, which puts on the Proms every year, is on the horns of a dilemma - it may want to please its audience but it must comply with the directive.

Its staff - the unsung heroes of the piece - have been rushing around moving to separate performers' chair to give them more space, and stocking up on ear plugs.

Cynics say Europe is once more trying to put the wind up British traditionalists, by trying to fine tune something that is already pitch perfect.

They accuse the EU of being off key - and all say they all hope that this year's Proms do not end on a 'bum' note.

-Source-Yahoo.com