Music's over for busted busker

A FEMALE busker who was repeatedly warned to stop singing on trains has been detained by police.

Metro police said the woman - who sang along to an electric guitar amplified through a portable stereo unit - had upset passengers on several occasions.

The street singer, in her 20s, was detained for the offense of disturbing order on public transit vehicles.

Police said they were receiving tips from passengers that there was a busker annoying people on Metro trains.

"The passengers were mostly complaining about the loud noises," said Wang Tao, a Metro police officer.

"A passenger said he had planned to listen up to some English-learning tapes but the singer forced him to give it up. The stereo was playing too loud." Patrol officers caught the young woman in the middle of her "live concert" on train on Metro Line 2 on Tuesday.

"The passengers started shaking their heads when she started playing with her equipment in the crowded train," Wang said.

Wang said the singer had been warned several times but she continued with her practice which was why she was detained for several days.

Vending, artistic performances, distributing fliers and begging are all illegal on public transit areas, according to the local transit administration rules, police said.