TIDWORTH’S church bells are to ring out again in a full peal for the first time in 100 years tonight after major restoration work to the tower at Holy Trinity Church.

In addition to the tower strengthening work, each of the bells has been retuned at specialists in London and a new one has been cast to give Tidworth a traditional full six bell peal for the first time.

The finishing touches were carried out this week by the Bridport bell hanging firm of Nicholson Engineering.

Bell hanger Mark Pring said: “The old 17th century frame for the bells was unable to withstand them ringing so a new steel frame has been installed with the bells lower down in the tower.

“The bells have retuned remarkably well although they may sound a little bit softer as the sound from them will need to travel up the tower before leaving through the slits.”

Although the bells have been sounded within living memory they have not been rung in a full peal until now.

The original frame, which is more than 300 years old has been retained because of its historic interest.

Rev Malcolm Freeman, the local vicar, told us that a group of bellringers based in Ludgershall under Mike Dunning was hoping to ring the full peal tonight.

After that the plan is to recruit a group of people from the Tidworth area to enable the bells to ring out more regularly than once every 100 years.

The restoration work at the church was funded largely by a sizeable grant from Kennet District Council just before it was abolished with a significant contribution from Tidworth Town Council.