Walsall Museum drum exhibition is silenced

Visitors to a drum exhibition at Walsall Museum have been banned from playing the instruments after people using the library below complained about noise.

Council chiefs have removed the drum sticks from the Classic Beats display after carrying out health and safety checks.

People who use the library downstairs had complained about the racket. The exhibition celebrates the musical career of jazz musician "Sir" Alan Buckley.

Councillor Anthony Harris, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "There were complaints from library users downstairs. After we checked noise levels we decided to remove the drum sticks."

He said there were also concerns about possible damage to the drum kits.

Mr Buckley, aged 74, who lives in Walsall, has organised more than 40 jazz festivals. He said: "Sometimes kids who can't play get a little carried away when having a go on the drums."

He added:"It's a shame because one day a young lad came in while I was at the exhibition and I was able to show him how to play using the brush sticks. He said he'd never played with brushes before. He was very good and showed a lot of interest in it."