Hurt bellringer back on the pull

Firefighters had to squeeze Dr Merry through a trap door

A church bellringer who suffered a broken collar bone when he became tangled in the bell rope has returned to the hobby he loves.

Dr Tony Merry was lifted up by the rope which caught on his trousers before he fell about 3ft (0.9m) at St Mary's Church, Charlbury, in May.

Due to the cramped conditions, fire crews used a pulley system to lower him on a stretcher through a trap door.

He has since re-taken up bellringing on the advice of his physiotherapist.

The 58-year-old, who has been bell ringing for more than three years, said: "I fractured my collar bone completely and after you do that you obviously stop using the muscles in your arm.

"Then you need to have some exercises to get back muscle tone and the physiotherapist said bellringing was the ideal exercise."

He still does not remember much about the incident but blames a bunch of keys in his pocket which tangled with the rope.

"I have not been put off it. At the time I said I wanted to get back into ringing and I have... it was a very freak accident.

"I'm just going to make sure I don't have anything in my pockets when I'm ringing again," he added.