EUROPE-WIDE limits on noise levels from MP3 players were urged - but head-bangers will be able to turn up the volume as much as they like.

Scientists say the quality of music reproduction at high levels on tiny players is now so good that more and more people are turning up the volume in their ear pieces - risking permanent hearing damage.

That has prompted the European Commission to demand a single decibel standard be agreed across the EU and regulated by fitting a maximum noise default setting which can be over-ridden.

But EU consumer affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva insisted that loud music fans will still be free to exceed the recommended safety level if they wish.

"We are not imposing noise limits," she said. "We are asking the industry and the EU's body for standardising to look at the best ways of tackling this issue".

She went on: "It's easy to push up the sound levels on your MP3 player to damagingly-loud levels, especially on busy streets or public transport.

Evidence

"And the evidence is that young people in particular - who listen to music at high volumes sometimes for hours each week, have no idea they can be putting their hearing at risk."

The Commissioner warned it would take years for hearing damage to show, by which time it was too late.

She said sorting out the new standards, based on scientific evidence of potential noise damage, could take up to two years.

"These standards make small technical changes to players so that by default, normal use is safe.

"If consumers chose to over-ride the default settings they can, but there will be clear warnings so they know the risk they are taking. The warnings can be either on the music player screens or on the packaging."