CELEBRATIONS chimed through Little Bedwyn when Bishop of Salisbury Nick Holtman rang the new bell at St Michael’s Church during a rededication service.

The four bells were taken away in June 2013 for restoration. A two-year appeal had raised £50,000, with half of the money coming from villagers and neighbouring parishes and the rest being donated by trusts and agencies, including grants from Pewsey Area Board and The Farmers Trust.

The refurbishment project also included the restoration and reguilding of the clock and the work was carried out by Matthew Higby and Company in Bath.

The biggest bell weighs half a ton, so it was a tricky operation getting them all out of the tower. A fifth bell has been donated to the church by Keltek Trust.

Project manager Bill Yates said: “It’s been years since we have been able to ring them because they were in such a bad condition that they could only be rung by professionals, which we don’t have, so they’ve only been rung four or five times in the last few years.

“They just sound absolutely gorgeous and when they are in the hands of experts, as they were on Sunday, they’re fantastic.”

On Sunday 135 guests attended a service to mark the end of the project, which was completed in June.

The 400-year-old bells were rung before the service and The Rev Nick Holtam went up to the tower for a blessing and test his skills as a ringer.

TV cameras had been put in the belfry and ringing chambers so people could see the bells in action. They will next be rung on bonfire night and the parish has started to recruit ringers.