BRIDPORT: Villagers in Netherbury have been fundraising for three years to get the right notes from their ancient bells.

An inspection three years ago revealed work needing doing on the bells – to the tune of £57,000.

Work has began this week to take the six bells down for them to be re-tuned by Taylors of Loughborough.

Tower captain Graham Hawkins said: “A few years ago we thought it was time to do something about them and had them inspected.

“The bells are perfectly sound but a 100 years had crept on them.

“We have six bells in the tower and the only one we can’t tune is the tenor because it has an inscription and preservation order on it .

“The front five will be tuned, the existing wheels will be used but will be all new rims because the timber on there is all warped and twisted over the years.”

The bells were last re-hung 100 years ago and new oak frames were installed at the same time. Villagers have been fundraising for the past three years and the church has managed to get grants from various bodies like the Historic Churches Trust.

Churchwarden and St Mary’s Church treasurer Stephen Adams said: “We did get some grants and a fairly large proportion from the village through events and appeals to the community and by constantly keeping people updated as to the progress and how far we had to go and appealing to people’s better nature.

“The whole village got behind it and we are extremely grateful to all the people who gave anything. Some people gave very generously and others gave what they could.

“The bells are held in some affection by people, not just churchgoers.”

Mr Hawkins added that it was hoped the bells would be back ringing by Easter next year.

“When the work is done though we hope they will last another 100 years or more.”

The oldest bells are the fourth which dates back to 1610, then the third which was cast in 1636, the treble and second in 1748, the tenor in 1750 and the fifth in 1814.