Clapping man faces noise pollution arrest

A Chinese man who is hoping his loud clapping will get him into the record books faces arrest for noise pollution offences if he demonstrates his talent too often, officials have said.

70-year-old Zhang Quan can clap at 107 decibels, louder than a plane flying 300m overhead and just 3 decibels lower than the whirling blades of a helicopter.

Environmental protection officers in his home town of Chongqing have said that he technically breaks the law every times he claps.

But Mr Zhang has said he will only show off his bizarre skill on rare occasions – because it hurts his ears.

Sam Bond