Sir - We are puzzled to read that an application has been made by the Central Mosque, Manzil Way, Cowley Road, to have planning laws changed to enable Muslims to broadcast the Islamic prayer call at least three times a day from the minaret.

For surely, most Muslims living in East Oxford will have watches, mobile phones, and abundant electronic means of knowing the time for themselves without needing a broadcast call? And living indoors, or travelling in cars, as people do in our climate, we further wonder how many decibels will be needed to penetrate the brick, metal, and double glazing for the call to get through.

We have heard it said that Muslims do not like the ringing of church bells. Yet bells are a part of the ancient culture of the West, especially in a medieval city. A bell, moreover, is simply a musical signal. But the prayer call is an explicit theological statement in Arabic words about, amongst other things, the prophetic status of Mohammed. To put it plainly, it is public preaching.

How would Muslims or Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, and atheists react if every church applied to broadcast an amplified recitation of The Lord's Prayer from its tower several times each day? And unlike the prayer call, which we understand takes around two minutes, The Lord's Prayer would take only 35 seconds at most.

Like many people we have spoken to, we strongly object to having Islam thrust upon us when sitting in the garden or having the windows open in summer, or indeed when walking in the street. It would open up a public health issue of noise nuisance, especially for people living in the Divinity and Southfield Road area.

Dr Allan Chapman and Mrs Rachel Chapman , East Oxford