A GUITARIST from Broadstairs has got one the loudest jobs in Kent, says a hearing expert.

Jim Knowler, 43, who plays guitar for jazz band Hullabaloo, was found to experience noise levels close to that of a jet plane taking off, according to an investigation by Mark Scutchings, head of hearing clinic company Hearbase.

Jim, whose gardener cousin Andy also took part in the research, said: "I was surprised at how loud our gig was.

"I even thought it was relatively quiet compared to some of our other concerts.

"I can’t imagine how loud they could be and am worried about my hearing, as it is my livelihood."

Jim’s concerts hit nearly 140 decibels, only 10 decibels from the amount doctors say can pierce your eardrum.

Mr Scutchings, who recently complained that he feared the Vue cinema in Westwood was too loud for filmgoers, said: "I expected Jim to have the loudest job but the maximum peak that he recorded of 139dB was particularly high.

"This is the equivalent of being 50 feet from a fighter jet taking off.

"Musicians suffer a real risk of damaging their hearing from repeated practising and gigs."

He added that all of the jobs he looked into, even the noise experienced by a librarian and a housewife were well over the noise level recommended by bureaucrats in Brussels.

He said: "The European Union has set the safe level for noise at 80dB.

"A good rule of thumb is if you can’t hear someone shouting when you are at work, then your workplace is too loud and you could end up damaging your hearing permanently.

"We are using the results of our research to raise awareness about noise levels at work and to help people protect their hearing."

How does Jim’s job compare to other sounds?

40 decibels- The average hum of a fridge

76 decibels- The world’s loudest fart, registered to Doug "The Sandblaster" Stupach of Dallas, Texas.

110 decibels- The amount of noise generated by a sty full of pigs at feeding time.

118 decibels- The world’s loudest car horn, the Bad Boy, whose US inventors Wolo claim is twice as loud as the average horn.

130 decibels- Human pain threshold

139 decibels- The loudest spike of the Hullabaloo concert

150 decibels- Perforation of the ear drum