THE SOUND of a full peal of bells is ringing out over Westbury for the first time in more than a decade.

As the 300th anniversary of the bells of St Mary, St Peter and St Paul approached last year it seemed that it would be many more years before the sound of church bells returned to the village.

But the restoration project grabbed the public imagination and it won £60,000 from the ITV-Big Lottery Jubilee People's Millions competition.

The bells were silenced because of safety concerns over the bells' housing.

A new housing and modern bearings – which make it easier for the ringers – have been installed and a successful test ringing was carried out last week.

Neil Tappin, of the Westbury-on-Severn Tower Appeal, said: "The bells were tested with a laser and a millisecond clock and they are now within two milliseconds.

"We are so grateful to everyone who has worked on this project and to those who supported us by voting for us.

"If it had not been for the ITV Big Lottery fund it might have been another 15 years before the bells rung again."

The Grade One listed tower and spire is almost unique being separate from the church.

There is evidence to suggest that there were bells there in 1290.