HERE'S an opportunity to get yourself heard miles away and without even opening your mouth...you can become a bellringer at one of the most beautiful little churches in the district.
St Andrew's Church at Awre, near Newnham, has a tower of six bells but no-one to ring them.
Tower captain Andy Cadogan has to tour the area to pull in a team whenever a special occasion arises and the bells are needed. But he would like a regular team available to call the scattered congregation to the riverside church.
"At one time we had 10 ringers but for one reason or another numbers have fallen away. We have a lovely peal of bells at St Andrew's and our aim is to build up a team to enable us to ring them regularly," he said.
Mr Cadogan is hoping enough interest can be raised to begin a training programme.
"The course is designed to teach people of all ages from 10 years old upwards. There is no charge and no musical knowledge is needed. The art of ringing church bells has been handed down over hundreds of years and is part of our heritage," he said.
Accomplished ringers would also be warmly welcomed.
Mr Cadogan said bells have been part of the church scene at Awre for 500 years.
The tower frame is largely intact from the earliest days and includes one timber dated 1619. The oldest of the present bells was cast in 1712 and the peal spans the whole life of the county's last bell founders.
Fancy the challenge? Telephone Andy Cadogan on Dean 517223.