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Businesses have blasted their town's four 'come and play' pianos and complained that tone deaf children are driving away their customers.
One of the four painted pianos in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has now had its lid screwed down to stop the public bashing the ivories.
The four pianos were dotted around town by Barrow Business Improvement District (BID) to 'inspire young people to do something in the arts industry'.
However, traders complained that children saw the instruments as climbing frames or toys and were 'just jumping up and down on them' making noise.
(Lweft to right) traders Lynne McKenna, Pete Clark, Margaret White and staff from Mammy's Café are unhappy with the noise from the pianos
Traders from Barrow market have complained that the recently installed pianos are negatively affecting their businesses
One of the piano lids has now been screwed down in order to stop the public bashing the ivories
Mark Holmes, who runs Harts jewellers in Barrow with his brother David, said: 'If they were playing Beethoven or Mantovani or something nice, that would be okay.
'But it's just kids jumping up and down on them and creating just utter noise. They're not as bad as carol singers - but they're on the same line.'
Fruit and veg stallholder Pete Clark, who sits across from one of the pianos, said: 'I
