Silent discos in Edinburgh could be facing a clampdown - with locals upset that the crowds of boogying tourists are too loud.

The "discos" involve people wearing their own headphones and dancing along as they follow a guided walking tour of the Scottish capital's most famous spots.

Council bosses say complaints have increased as the tours have become more popular.

They are now looking into a report about noise complaints, blocked pavements and worries over headphone-wearing dancers walking into traffic.

Conservative councillor Jo Mowatt told the Edinburgh Evening News: "Silent discos are not silent. There is a lot of whooping and screaming, especially when you have 40 women on a hen party.


"There is also the safety aspect as who is going to have to step in the road due to the groups taking up the pavements?

Ms Mowatt added: "I have been contacted by many of my constituents regarding silent discos, while the Old Town Community Council has been raising this issue for around nine months."

The silent discos also take place in other UK cities, such as Newcastle and Liverpool.

But Edinburgh Council says regulating the companies appears to be tricky.

The firms can avoid getting a licence if they don't take payment on the streets and existing laws are not modern enough to stop people dancing in the streets.

A council spokesperson told Sky News: "A report detailing the powers available to the Council to regulate silent discos and similar activity will be discussed at this evening's South East Locality Committee, though there are currently no plans to ban such walking tours."