Residents in Lausanne say the dancers sing along to the music

Silent discos, in which the traditional banks of loudspeakers are replaced by headphones worn by partygoers, have been banned by a Swiss city for being too noisy.

The concept, which might have seemed perfect for outdoor events, has drawn numerous complaints from people living in Lausanne, on the banks of Lake Geneva, because so many of the dancers are apparently unable to resist singing along to whatever tune is thumping through their headsets, creating a cacophonic, off-key chorus that is disturbing to neighbours.

Organisers of the For Noise festival, who had applied for licences to stage two silent discos, lasting until 5am, on rooftop terraces near the city centre have been turned down.

“During silent discos, the noise caused by the clientele is not negligible,”