CHURCH bell ringers will be forgiven if they drop a clanger through lack of practise.

Wigan Council have slapped a noise abatement notice on Leigh Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin after residents in new apartments neighbouring the town centre church complained about the disturbance caused by Monday evening sessions.

Since notice was served Priest in Charge at St Mary's, Father Kevin Crinks said practice had been reduced to one hour each week.

But residents in the apartment block off Walmesley Road claim the Monday evening sessions are intrusive and want further measures to deaden the noise.

Wigan Council’s Head of Regulatory and Community Services, Alan Blundell, said: “We fully appreciate the sensitivity of this issue and that’s why we have been working with all parties for a long time to look at finding a solution that helps both the church and those residents who live close to the church.

“The council received an initial complaint about the noise from the bells about two years ago. We cannot pick and choose which complaints we investigate, so we were duty-bound to look into this issue.

“The council finds itself between two opposing views: the church community wants to continue to ring the bells at times to suit the bell-ringers and some local residents, who have complained many times about the noise, would like this to change.

“The residents are particularly concerned that the bells ring at times when they are trying to get young children to sleep.

“Council officers have met with representatives from the church, the residents and from the diocese in the hope of finding a resolution.

“Measures currently being looked at include better sound insulation but we would not expect council tax payers to fund such modifications.

"The council is committed to continue to work with all parties in helping them find a resolution that allows bell ringing but prevents major problems for the residents.” residents."

But Fr Crinks is urging people who appreciate tradition to show their support by writing to the Council.

He said: "If you keep silent, so will the bells, and who knows what the next erosion to our freedom might be? Please write to the Wigan council environmental services department, Unity House, Westwood Park Drive, Wigan, WN3 4HE, or email ep@wigan.gov.uk, saying how much you like the church bells. They are pressuring the church to stop ringing or else to pay huge costs to put in sound proofing."

Currently the situation is on hold because the parish church bells are silent having been removed for refurbishment but the bell for round two of the battle should begin next month when they are rehung in St Mary's tower.