Church offers bell-ringing sessions in holidays

A church is inviting children to take up bell-ringing as part of an initiative to keep them off their electronic devices during the school summer holidays.

St Mary's Church, in Speldhurst, has been inviting children over the age of 13 to give bell-ringing a go, which involves physical activity, concentration, problem solving and social interaction.

Janice Byrne, who is organising the bell-ringing classes, told BBC Radio Kent she initially started doing it herself when she was 12 years old.

She said: "Both my parents did it when I was younger and I had a lot of enthusiasm when I started, but I lost it quite quickly as it wasn't cool."

The church has eight bells, hung in a timber frame.

Byrne said: "You can go to different places and ring bells in different churches - every set of bells in every church is unique."

Mel, who was learning to bell-ring at the church, said: "I saw a plea on social media and wanted to get involved.

"My 10-year-old son came with me and he got involved and really enjoyed it as well.

"It's a great way to engage the younger generation - it's completely different but very social and much more complex than you would think it would be."

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