THE bells of St Andrew’s Church, Colebrooke, are in need of attention and an appeal to raise about £45,000 is to be launched.

Ringers, both call-change and method, are invited to go along and ring the bells on Saturday, July 30, between 10am and 12 noon and between 2pm and 4pm.

Coffee and cake will be on offer during the morning with sausages and burgers from the barbecue during the lunch time period, together with a bar and cream teas in the afternoon.

During the event there will also be a Craft Fayre hosted by Colebrooke Bells Restoration Project.

All are invited to attend the coffee morning, for lunch, cream teas or visit the Craft Fayre, and any ringing teams wishing to ring should book with Fred Oliver on 01363 84419.

The six-bells, with a tenor of 17 cwt, have a fine tone.

Interestingly the peal contains a bell (the fourth), which was cast by Pennington, the name of a local family, in 1627.

It is intended eventually to make Colebrooke into a ringing centre with a simulator and to include a dumb bell whereupon people interested in learning how to ring can go along.

Experienced ringers will be welcome to attend to assist with teaching.

For further details, visit the website: www.colebrookbells.org.uk .

Alan Quick