Buskers in a busy town centre are being issued with a set of guidelines to silence those who perform too loudly, for too long and at unreasonable times of the day.

Street entertainers in Rochester High Street will be handed a code of practice setting out when and where they can busk.

Amplifiers will not be allowed and they will be allocated three designated areas; near The Crown at Rochester Bridge, outside the Blue Boar Lane car park and at the Star Hill end of the High Street.

They will only be permitted to perform between 10am and 4pm and with maximum of one hour at each location.

They will only be able to return after a three-hour break and will have to take up their slot on a first come, first served basis.

It's hoped the guidance will encourage a better class of musician to the town where rich pickings can be made from the thousands of visitors who go there, particularly in the summer months.

Ward councillor Stuart Tranter is behind the conduct rules which are currently at a draft stage and due to be verified by council officers soon.

If successful, it will be rolled out to other parts of Medway, including Chatham High Street.

Cllr Tranter said :"Buskers don't currently have to be licensed and we don't want to go down the route of policing it.

"We have seen an increasing number of buskers in recent years as the footfall has grown and we need to nip it in the bud before things could get out of hand.

"There have been times when they have been too loud and they sing the same three songs over and over again.

"There's an example of somebody clearly miming. How can you expect to get money for that?"

"We are not saying you can't busk.It's all about showing respect and common sense.

"Busking can cause a nuisance, an obstruction and safety issues."

He added: "I have been working on this for about 18 months. Rochester is the guinea pig if it works and, it may need adjusting, we will introduce the code of practice elsewhere."

Fellow ward councillor Alex Paterson, however, said these changes were still under consideration. He added: "I think this is a sledge hammer to crack a nut.

"I do not think that buskers are the most pressing anti-social behaviour or nuisance on our high street.

"This could still creativity at a time when Medway is portraying a public image as the capital of culture.

"Rochester deserves better than its music scene being dictated by grumpy old men."

Jordan Ravenhall, known as the Primark Busker for entertaining at his familiar pitch outside the Chatham store, said the new guidelines would put him off going to Rochester.

He said: "’In some ways I can see what the council is doing to get rid of the bad buskers. Busking overall has a bad reputation, they think of us as homeless and begging for money. But we give a place good vibes."

On the guidelines containing a time limit and a ban on amplifiers Jordan said: "I need a microphone to be heard. I'd get tonsillitis without one singing in a busy high street,

"Where would Ed Sheeran be if he hadn't been heard?

"Also it can take some musicians time to set up and if only there for an hour, once they paid travelling costs you could end up not making any money.

"I enjoy busking, it's my love but it's also the way I make a living.

"People come to Chatham not just for Primark but to see me. After so many years, they expect to see me outside Primark."