Restoration plan for church bells

Six historic bells are being removed from a Somerset church in order for restoration work to begin.

They are being lowered from the 100ft tower of St Martin's in Kingsbury Episcopi.

The six bells weigh up to a tonne with the oldest dating from the 15th Century. Residents helped raise £70,000 to pay for the work.

Richard Dowdeswell who led the project said the support had been remarkable. The work should take until December.

The church also received £12,000 towards the work from the Historic Churches Preservation Trust.

The tower, said to be a particularly fine example of the 15th Century Perpendicular style, dominates the surrounding area.

Building work was completed prior to the Reformation of 1530. However the church was damaged a century later during the Civil War.

It was restored and renovated between 1845 and 1849.