An award-winning television cameraman is campaigning to get the sound turned down at Ashford’s Cineworld cinema.

But so far complaints by Derek Budd, from Hythe, have been rejected as the company insists it is meeting industry guidelines.

His complaint follows a visit to view Slumdog Millionaire.

He said: “While the world’s film industry is rightly basking in the current success of this and other UK made films, perhaps they should also reflect on the concerned viewpoint of cinema audiences.

“We were disturbed by the unacceptable loudness of the performance and the sound levels of promotional adverts and trailers.

“Numerous members of the audience had hands on their ears”.

He complained to staff and was told there was nothing wrong and the amplifiers were set to health and safety guidelines.

But after 40 years working in broadcast television he felt qualified to raise the issue and express concerns and he is now appealling to others that consider the sound too loud to register a protest with the company.

Andy Grove, manager of Cineworld Ashford, said: “All of the films shown at Cineworld cinemas run at the industry standard volume level.

“Cineworld also operates an occupational noise at work programme for employees of which monitoring noise levels in the auditoriums is an integral part.”