YOUNG musicians have been equipped with special earplugs that protect their hearing but still allow their tunes to filter through.

Students at Darlington College of Technology have been issued with Ultratech hi-fi ear protectors as part of their studies on a variety of performing arts courses.

"When they are performing on stage it isn't actually that loud because they are behind the speaker stacks," said senior college tutor Andrew Meadowcroft.

"But there are times when they are rehearsing that it could be loud, so we have given them the earplugs as a precaution.

"Musicians need to protect their ears but also need to hear the music. The earplugs are great as they don't just muffle everything, they reduce sound levels that make you wince across the frequency range."

Anthony Hepburn, a first year student on the rock and pop diploma course, uses the earplugs regularly.

The Richmond singer said: "It sounds a bit strange when I am singing, but they are really helpful when I am playing guitar as I can still hear what I am doing despite the bass and the drums in the background."