ALL six bells of a Much Cowarne church are to be proudly rung again after more than 100 years of muted magnificence.

The bells of St Mary's Church have not been pulled together since 1903 when one of them was damaged, but a £28,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will be used to give them a new lease of life.

The grant provides 59 per cent of the total project cost to repair the cracked tenor bell, which will be supplemented with money raised by the Hereford Diocese Guild of Bell ringers and a range of successful events held locally.

Terry Jefferies, churchwarden and chairman of Much Cowarne Bells Restoration Appeal Fund, said: "Bell ringing has taken place in our church for hundreds of years and to restore this tradition will enhance our community pride and encourage far more frequent use of this valuable building."

The grant will also be used to train a new team of bell-ringers, under the guidance of the Bromyard District bell ringers, and to generally increase the community use of the church.

"It will make a huge change to the village because we will have our first team of bell ringers in Much Cowarne," added Terry.

Information boards detailing the history and significance of the church will be made available to local organisations including nearby Burley Gate Primary School.