Auctioneer David Probert thought the letter was a joke, but a phone call to the Health and Safety Executive office in Worcester soon revealed that it wasn't.

After more than 40 years as an auctioneer in the county, Mr Probert has been asked to respond to a complaint - about the level of noise he makes when he conducts the fortnightly poultry auction at Hereford market.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," he said. "I've been an auctioneer for 40 years and never had a complaint. And I've been much louder than I am here."

At the Health and Safety Executive, Harvey Wild, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety, explained that, having received a complaint: "We are duty bound to investigate it.

"We have, though, taken a fairly low priority approach to this complaint."

A second letter to Mr Probert asked more questions, designed to ascertain the level of noise any employees were exposed to.

"If there is no risk to employees there is no risk to members of the public", Mr Wild said, explaining why questions were raised about the time employees spent with the poultry.

Having so far failed to respond to the letters he has been sent, Mr Probert has now received a third dated June 20, telling him: "If we do not receive a reply within seven days, a visit by an inspector may be arranged."

An inspector will establish whether the auction breaches the noise regulations threshhold, which, from April 2006, was lowered from 85 decibels to 80 decibels.

A noise level of 80 dB is equivalent to the sound inside a tractor cab, while 135 dB equivalent to standing 25 metres from a jet aircraft taking off.

The poultry market, which lasts for about an hour and a half, is held on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, selling poultry, hatching eggs and eggs mainly to smallholders and families investing in a couple of chickens for the back garden.

Until 12 months ago, the auction took place weekly, but fears about avian flu have led to a dramatic decrease in the market.

Mr Probert remains adamant that he will not be replying: "I'm not going to write back," he said. "It's absolute nonsense, a waste of time and money."

At the Health and Safety Executive, Mr Wild is waiting for an opinion from the noise specialists based on the information he has been able to provide, and admits that: "I don't think there is a major risk here, but we must look into it."