Big Ben bell celebrates 150 years

Big Ben, Britain's most famous bell, will celebrate 150 years of chiming on Saturday. It first rung in July 1859.

Back in May the clock tower celebrated its 150th anniversary. Now it's the turn of the bell inside.

Big Ben is often used to describe the tower, but the nickname actually belongs to the bell, which strikes every 15 minutes in central London.

The bell weighs 13.5 tonnes and with the tower is part of the Palace of Westminster, where politicians work.

Big Ben clock celebrates 150 years

It wasn't an easy job to get the bell working.

The first one was cast in 1856 but cracked the following year when it was being tested.

Big Ben facts The clock tower is 96 metres high The clock faces are seven metres across The main bell is officially called the Great Bell, but is nicknamed Big Ben There are 393 steps from the bottom to the top

The second bell was cast in April 1858, but it also cracked a year after it was put in place at the top of the clock tower.

It was silent for four years until, in 1963, it was turned so the hammer which strikes the bell hit a different spot.

The celebrations include a night time projection on the tower, reading 'Happy Birthday Big Ben, 150 years, 1859 - 2009'.