Turkey noises sooth shoppers

Soothing sounds of turkeys are being piped across the city

Weary festive shoppers fed up with Slade, Wizzard and Cliff could find some relief in Wakefield - where the sound of turkeys gobbling is being piped across the city.

A system of loudspeakers set up across the city is broadcasting the sound of the traditional Christmas bird every hour to last-minute shoppers.

The gobbling was recorded as the birds were being reared for the festive season, according to creator Jay Jones.

The turkeys' gobbling booms out from the city's media and creativity centre opposite the town hall.

The work is the latest "audio sculpture" by Californian artist Mr Jones and is called "what do people in Turkey call turkey?"

The seasonal audio sculptures could also be a new alternative to the traditional Christmas tree for public buildings Audio sculptor Jay Jones

The topically-themed sound art is temporarily replacing the sound of two cows moo-ing in a work entitled "Countryside? Ceci, une vache".

And it is complemented by a display of information about both the birds and the country Turkey.

Artist Jay Jones said: "We want to encourage listeners to recognise how what we perceive as 'reality' operates on a number of different levels.

"The seasonal audio sculptures could also be a new alternative to the traditional Christmas tree for public buildings."