Anger over bid to silence bells

Residents believe the complainant is a village newcomer

The level of bell chimes of a Somerset church - which have rung day and night for 200 years - are to be measured after a complaint they were too loud.

Residents in Chedzoy believe the critic was a new resident of the village whose sleep was being disrupted.

One told BBC News: "I wonder if someone moved into Westminster Square, would they ask Big Ben to be silenced?"

Sedgemoor District Council said it was duty-bound to monitor the noise level, even after two centuries of tradition.

Council officer Malcolm Brooks said: "It doesn't really matter what the source of the noise is, we're obliged to investigate a complaint made to us.

"We have to treat each one equally and investigate it properly."