The News & Star has been out and about checking noise levels in Carlisle after the city was named one of the noisiest urban areas in England.

Reporter Anna Richardson conducted her own experiment, checking how loud the traffic was at various different sites - and came up with some suprising results.

In a recent national survey Carlisle came 23rd on the noisy list, with the average noise level on or near roads recorded at around 74 decibels – almost as noisy as being inside a factory or an alarm clock just two feet away.

But during her own trial Anna recorded levels nearer to 90 decibels - higher than the survey's number one city, Newcastle, which recorded an average 80.4.

Anna (pictured) said: "I was surprised because Carlisle is not a big city.

"The noisiest area was by a big roundabout and that was really bad, as high as 90 decibels when a truck was going past.

"Because it's background noise you don't really pay much attention, but when you think about it it's quite intrusive and I can imagine that it can be quite damaging in the long-run."

The loudest measurements recorded in the survey for Carlisle were taken at bus stops opposite the Market Hall, where levels reached 74.2 decibels – more than twice as loud as an ordinary conversation.

But Anna discovered noise levels at Hardwicke Circus roundabout of almost 86 decibels – louder than underground trains.

At the Market Hall she recorded readings as high as 82.5 decibels and the lowest was 69.1 decibels.

And at the railway station the highest reading came in at 68.2 decibels with a low of 67.2 decibels when no trains were moving and no announcements were being made.

Anna said: "My experiment was just for a couple of minutes at peak times, but that noise is still there."