Ear damage? Too loud, too long

Listening to your favourite music - at too loud a level and for too long - can permanently damage your hearing.

Research found 65 per cent of MP3 users listen to volumes above 85 decibels. That's the same as being close to a loud alarm clock. Experts from the World Health Organisation say listening to music at that volume for just an hour at a time can damage your hearing.

Today, health officials from the Royal Berkshire Hospital have been warning people of the risks, as Kate Cooney reports.