Students have been warned that millennium parties in night clubs could damage their hearing.

At Christmas parties at South Bank University in London, students are being given leaflets warning them of the dangers of spending too long in clubs with very loud music.

There are concerns that parties to mark the new year, which could stretch over a long period of time, could leave young people with permanent hearing loss.

"Millennium parties will last three days, but damage to hearing can last a lifetime. All it takes is a little thought to protect your ears from damage," said Joe Saxton, spokesman for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

The leaflets suggest some ways in which students can take protect their hearing. These include such ideas as taking breaks from the music, by finding areas in clubs away from speakers.

If students want to reduce the levels of noise more substantially, there is also an offer for free ear plugs, available from the RNID.