BAFFLED bell ringers have launched an appeal against moves to muffle the Leigh Bells.

Now the group of campanologists have begun a petition which they hope will attract enough support to overrule a ban. The bells, silenced during renovation work, will return to St Mary's on Monday.

On behalf of the bellringers at Leigh Parish Church, Tower Captain Trevor Bailey told the Journal: "We have now put a petition in church that can be signed by all who wish to do so. The petition states that the installation of sound control is not required and agree that practice ringing for 1 ½ hrs, one night a week is reasonable behaviour, especially as it is the norm for many churches up and down the country.

"Leigh Parish Church is the only church in the country to have a noise abatement notice served against it and it is also the first time in the history of ringing at Leigh that a complaint as ever been made to the council.

"The ringers themselves set up a bell fund and the church council also gave a donation.

"So why have we not raised the money for sound control the complainants asked?

"Well, raising money to have the bells quietened doesn’t quite have the same appeal does it?

"Historically Leigh Tower has always held practised on Monday evening. Each of the other weekday nights are allocated to other towers in the Bolton area and 7.30-9.00pm is when the majority of towers practise. We have asked on numerous occasions when would be an acceptable time, night, etc for practice. We have never had a reply.

"The complainants state that practice night is the only issue. If this was the case then why on numerous occasions have residents from the flats been to the church prior to services to complain about the bells ringing. Ironically we were welcoming the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester at one service and the Mayor of the Borough of Wigan and other civic dignitaries at another.

"Would sound control only be required for practice night, or is this the tip of the iceberg?

"The complainants ask us to show Christian compassion. Since the notice was served on the church we have not allowed any Peals or Quarter Peals to be rung at Leigh, we do not ring at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve or ring in the New Year in consideration for our neighbours.

"Sound control will also reduce the sound of the bells for all ringing - not just practice.

"For nearly 400 years buildings of all types have been built closer to the church how can it be that all of a sudden the church is to blame?

"It is commendable that our local councillors will provide the funds to install sound control, what about those who wish to hear the bells, who will hear their side of the argument?

"Where else in Leigh can you climb a 16th century structure to view and hear a fully restored 18th century musical instrument?"

The church will be open from 6.00pm until 8.00pm on Monday, May 17 for viewing of the restored bells, wheels and other fittings before they are taken up out of sight for another century.