Eavesdrop on noisy London with the online 'sound map'

The sounds of the capital are to be immortalised online.

The London Sound Survey aims to collect thousands of samples to create a "sound map" of the capital. There are already 200 clips from the hum of traffic to lapping waves of the Thames.

They can be heard on the website with excerpts from works by Pepys, Thackeray, Dickens and Orwell which mention noises of the city.

"Sound is an overlooked part of history," said project founder Ian Rawes, 44, from Nunhead. "I think recording sound is a fascinating way to document London. We've found really interesting sounds, from a highly entertaining car auctioneer in Deptford to pleasure cruisers coming down the Thames."

Mr Rawes, who works at the British Library's sound archive, said the website started as an experiment so he could learn about recording techniques.

"Through work I had a real interest in sound, so I decided to set up the site as I began to make recordings.

"I'd like to build an archive that takes in every part of London, and really gives people an idea of what each area sounds like, as they are actually very different," he said.