Neighbours of a busy hospital which has its own helicopter pad said wind chimes in an Oxford cemetery were too noisy.

The Hicks family and the notice from Oxford City Council

More than 30 chimes, at the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (Sands) Memorial at Headington Cemetery, Dunstan Road, were taken down by Oxford City Council.

Sharon and Andrew Hicks, whose son Tyler is buried there, said the chimes were helpful and soothing, and could not believe that people used to the noise of the nearby John Radcliffe Hospital would be bothered by them.

Staff at the council-run cemetery said they had received letters complaining about the noise.

Tyler was buried at the cemetery after Mrs Hicks suffered a miscarriage 21-weeks into her pregnancy in December 2001.

Mr Hicks, 34, a builder, of Brake Hill, Greater Leys, said: "We visit quite often and find the garden tranquil with the sound of wind chimes which put your mind at ease."

He added: "All we could think of was that they posed a danger to the helicopter pad built next to the memorial.

"Eventually we were told they were removed after complaints by local residents that they were too noisy.

"We found it unbelievable that wind chimes were too noisy compared to a landing helicopter.

"Maybe we are too used to helicopters hovering over our houses these days, and the peaceful sound of a wind chime is too out of place."

Mr Hicks said parents of children at the gardens should have been informed the chimes were being removed.

This week the couple received a letter from the council, stating that at no time was an agreement made that articles could be hung in the trees.

The letter said: "Tolerance had prevailed until complaints were being received of continuous jangling which some people find offensive and intrusive."

Hugh Dawson, the council's cemeteries manager said: "Wind chimes started appearing, but it got to the stage where there were too many. We are not trying to be nasty, but there were 30 of them in the trees, and people said they were too noisy."