Covent Garden buskers hit back at cuts

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The performers said that out of nearly 50 market businesses they surveyed, almost 90 per cent said they were not distracted by the performances.

Nine out of 10 also said entertainment drew shoppers to the area, while 88 per cent said music helped sales.

Landlord Capco is cutting buskers' slots in the north and south halls so that rather than perform back-to-back for 50 minutes each, they appear for 30 minutes, with half an hour between each act. The buskers say playing time will fall from 20 to 10 hours. Spokeswoman Beatrice Anderson, 29, a viola player, said some performers would have to quit.

Covent Garden brand director Bev Churchill said the problem was a "clash of sounds" from simultaneous performances. Less than 30 per cent of slots would be cut, she added.