THE NOISIEST musical band in Macclesfield is appealing for a new place to practice after being "drummed out" of yet another venue in the borough.

After seven years of being given their marching orders from pub to club and then from field to field, the Poynton Commodores are STILL searching for new pastures.

And it's a bit of a tall - long and wide - order for the 33-strong all-American marching band.

For as well as a normal-sized rehearsal room, the troupe also need the area the size of a FOOTBALL PITCH - to hold proper formations.

They have performed outdoors on several fields in the past, but with a large marching army of seven to 25-year-olds pounding drums and blowing trumpets, they face countless complaints about noise wherever they go, and a choice of venues is looking slim.

The squad, who finished in A class in 1997 in a national competition, and are members of the Drum Corp of the United Kingdom, will celebrate their thirtieth anniversary later this year, but still look set to be homeless.

Now performing at drum and bugle competitions across the country, they started off with 21 members playing in Vernon Infants' School in 1973, and moved to various locations in the village.

They practised at the Junior School and Vernon Playing fields, and on the site of Lightnin' Mixers on London Road South, but were eventually forced out of Poynton completely because of noise.

Moving into Macclesfield, a field off the A34 across from Wilmslow High School fared no better, with yet more complaints.

And the final blow is that they now may have to forget practising in the Phoenix Club in Styal, where members say they were going from "strength to strength".

They say it only takes a call from the public to Macclesfield Borough Council for them to be moved on.

Spokesman for the Commodores, Joy Cropper, said: "It is essential that we find somewhere to practise. We need a small venue and a large field where we can perform proper formations. To do this we need something the size of a football pitch.

"The ongoing problem is that as soon as we find somewhere people complain about the noise.

"Unfortunately it does carry, but at the end of the day people also complain about youths causing noise on the streets. Yet here we are having them do something worthwhile and there are still complaints. We don't know what to do."

Secretary, Elaine Ellis, added: "We are supposed to practise in the open air, but we are plagued by complaints everywhere we go and have to leave.

"All our members are dedicated and talented and putting their energies into something good. We have been applauded for the way we are always immaculately turned out and the pride we have in ourselves. It is essential we carry on."

Almost every High School in College in the US have a similar type of Marching Band. But with vast numbers of larger sporting arenas, it does not pose such a problem.

If you can help the Commodores with a place to perform please contact them on 01625 874936 or if you have any ideas call the newsdesk on 01625 424445 ext 29.