It may sound barmy, but the British Army may be about to start marching on tippy-toes.

And the rousing trumpets and drums that accompany the troops around the parade grounds could end up playing an altogether more gentle melody.

What is more, those guns are much too noisy!

For modern health and safety regulations are now targeting the military - and bands and barking sergeant-majors could be in the firing line. The move, which would make Britain's biggest base at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, an altogether quieter place, follows a safety audit by the Ministry of Defence.

And it comes only days after the country's top soldier, General Sir Charles Guthrie, warned that the "creeping advance" of health and safety regulations risked undermining the Armed Forces' effectiveness.

The audit concluded that the Army could be in breach of the Noise at Work and Environment Protection Act. One problem was that troops could not wear ear defenders to protect them from the rifle noise as they had to be able to listen out for orders.

Another was military band members, "especially the percussion and brass sections".

Catterick, which is home to several bands as well as the Infantry Training Centre, is expected to come under special scrutiny from a working group next year.

The group, which will include serving military personnel, will be looking at possible solutions to the problem.

"The welfare of our people is of very great importance and the working group will be looking for answers which strike the right balance," said an Army spokesman at York.

However Armed Forces Minster John Spellar insisted that no action would be taken that would compromise military effectiveness.

"Industrial deafness in any job isn't a joke," he said. "We have people looking at this, and if there are common sense solutions, will take them. If there are not, then we won't."