A vicar has called for a ban on "musical drivel" being played in supermarkets over Christmas.

The Reverend Philip Greenhalgh, an accomplished pianist and folk guitarist, says the recorded music being played in North-East stores could drive shoppers up the wall.

Writing in his parish magazine at St John's Chapel, in Weardale, County Durham, Mr Greenhalgh says: "One of the less attractive features of the Christmas shopping season is the awful canned music many shops and stores feel they need to inflict on their customers.

"It's often a terrible din. I never enjoy shopping, but to be made to listen to such drivel makes shopping even worse."

Mr Greenhalgh, who also plays the violin, concertina, harmonium and mandola, said: "For ten months of the year, we can enjoy blissful silence when we go shopping.

"Then, as Christmas draws near, we are bombarded by this dreadful din."

Voted a miss by the vicar are Walking in a Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells and I Wish It Could be Christmas Every Day.

Instead, he would like to see live music being played in the foyer of shops and supermarkets and suggests that if people want to listen to Christmas music, they should go to Durham Cathedral for evensong.

Susan Heron, spokeswoman for the North-East Co-operative Society, said there was a mixed reaction to festive tapes being played in their stores.

"We conducted a survey into this last year and, although some customers did say the music was an inconvenience, a fair majority said they preferred to listen to it.

"We are, however, quite prepared to accommodate groups, like school carol singers and the Salvation Army, if they wish to sing in our stores."

Supermarket chain Safeway does not play festive music in all its outlets.

Spokeswoman Emma French said: "We have carried out research into customers' tastes and we found that the majority liked to hear Christmas-style music, so we have set out to accommodate them.

"A number of local music groups, including school choirs, already play in our stores."