WIND CHIMES are to be banned from a Newport cemetery following complaints they make too much noise.

The city council says the chimes must be removed from Christchurch Road cemetery after some visitors complained.

But others say they find the sound soothing and are furious about the ban.

Notices have been pinned up around the cemetery saying the chimes, which people hang from trees, must be taken down by March 1.

There are hundreds of the chimes in the cemetery, with as many as 15 on some trees.

John Davies, 64, of St Julians Road, visits the graves of his brother, Gareth, and father, William, every fortnight.

He said: "I thought it was a hoax. I couldn't believe it. I can't see what harm these chimes are doing at all."

Another visitor, Jeannette Monkley, says she finds the sound of the chimes calming.

Mrs Monkley, of Kensington Place, Newport, puts flowers on the graves of her grandparents every week.

She said: "It sounds lovely when the wind is blowing."

When she first saw the notices she was outraged.

"I think it's ridiculous. People spend a lot of money up there on wind chimes."

Mrs Monkley, who has a garden full of the ornaments, said she does not know why people are complaining about the noise.

She said traffic noise from the nearby motorway is much louder than the chimes.

A spokesman for the council said: "We put up the signs in response to complaints about the noise from users of the cemetery."

But Councillor Hugh Clark said: "I think the council may be overreacting by deciding to ban them.

"I have had no complaints from my constituents about it but I promise to go to the cemetery and look into it."