Which is the noisiest city in the UK? London? Manchester? Southampton? In fact, it's Newcastle, according to a report by Ear Institute at the University College London, and Widex, a Danish hearing aid manufacturer.
During October and November 2006 researchers measured traffic noise in the towns and cities across England during rush-hour periods.
In Newcastle the roar of constant traffic generates an impressive 80.4 decibels - equivalent to the sound of a loud alarm clock right in your ear.
At the other end of the spectrum, Torquay (with just 60 decibels), is the most silent place of all in the survey of 41 towns and cities. Comparisons of the figures generated by busy Newcastle and sleepy Torquay show a difference of 20.4 decibels - this indicates that Newcastle is 100 times noisier than Torquay.
Places where ambient noise is considered 'loud' include London, Birmingham and Darlington. Locations such as Darlington, Doncaster and Gillingham, are louder than other such as Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham.
Here are the current 'league' tables - which no-one in local government in these areas will be shouting about.
LOUDEST & QUIETEST LOCATIONS
Loudest:
1 Newcastle - 80.4 decibels2 Birmingham - 79.1 decibels
3 London - 78.5 decibels
4 Darlington - 78.3 decibels
= Doncaster - 78.3 decibels
Most silent:
1 Torquay - 60.2 decibels2 Paignton - 65.7 decibels
3 Scunthorpe - 66.4 decibels
4 Folkestone - 66.8 decibels
5 Colchester - 68.1 decibels
Professor Deepak Prasher, of the Ear Institute, said: "Noise pollution in our towns and cities is a growing problem and can have a serious long-term impact on our health and well-being. Noise not only annoys but also can raise our stress levels and associated hormone levels. It can disturb sleep and increase the risk of heart disease and if the noise is loud enough it can lead to permanent hearing impairment and tinnitus."
