AN APPEAL has been launched by the Wiltshire Rural Music School to raise money for soundproofing so that it can continue to offer musical activities.

The school is hoping to raise £10,000 to help fight a noise abatement order banning the playing of all brass instruments at their Gloucester Road premises.

The charity, which is run by volunteers, is asking people to help in their fundraising efforts or send donations.

West Wiltshire District Council issued the school with the noise abatement order on February 5 after receiving complaints from a tenant in the building.

The appeal was due to be heard at North West Wiltshire Magistrates Court on Monday but has now been postponed.

Faye Caley, director of music, said: "We are not sure what is going to happen. We are going to campaign to raise money for sound insulation because knowing what the law is like it's probably a pipe dream for the order to be quashed.

"We just hope a decision is made soon so we can get on with doing our work. This uncertainty about what we can and cannot do with our activities is very worrying.

"Putting in sound insulation is one of the provisions for the abatement order and the council has agreed to what we might do. That is a positive step."

Louise Knox, a spokesman for the council, said: "We have no desire to see the school shut but we have a statutory requirement to follow through and the noise has been established as a nuisance. Hopefully we can come up with alternative soundproofing solutions the school can implement."

The music school was ordered to stop all brass playing in the building from March 18.

Students from the John of Gaunt School's successful brass band and brass ensembles have been forced to meet elsewhere.

The noise abatement order was issued after a complaint from a tenant living in the building.

The Wiltshire Rural Music School, is due to celebrate its seventieth anniversary next year.