Joy as villagers win bell battle

The church's normal bells will continue to sound every 15 minutes

Villagers fighting an order to silence their historic church bells are celebrating after the resident that sparked the row withdrew the complaint.

For 107 years the carillon at St Mary's in Tickhill, near Doncaster, has played every fourth hour, with a different tune for each day of the week.

Villagers were furious when Doncaster Council issued a noise abatement order after an objection to chimes at 4am.

But on Wednesday, the council said the original complaint had been withdrawn.

The bells can continue and everyone will be very pleased Raymond Hill, parish council chairman

The unidentified resident had objected to the early morning playing of the carillon which on Saturdays rings out with Home Sweet Home.

Among the other tunes played are the hymns O Worship the King on Sundays and Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending on Fridays.

The parish council said it could be modified to stop chiming in the early hours but would cost £5,000 - a figure beyond their means.

But after it emerged that the resident had withdrawn the complaint the council said the order would no longer be served.

Doncaster Mayor Martin Winter said: "The chimes and tunes at St. Mary's Church, Tickhill will continue to ring out as the original complaint about the early morning bells has been withdrawn, so we won't be taking any action."

Parish council chairman Raymond Hill said villagers had been "up in arms" following the complaint.

He added: "This is really good news.

"The bells can continue and everyone will be very pleased."

The carillon was installed in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and was paid for by a local benefactor.