BELLS will ring out across Worcester when a city centre church clock is repaired ending 35 years of silence.

The bells of St Swithun's Church, off the High Street, have not chimed since 1972. But, thanks to a £1,692 grant from Worcester City Council, that is about to change and they will soon ring everytime the church clocks strike the hour.

Church steward Raymond Fowler explained that it was actually a specific clock chiming mechanism, that connects the church clocks to the bells, that is being repaired, rather than the bells.

"We have two clocks in St Swithun's," he said.

"One at the east end, overlooking The Shambles, and the other at the west end. They are joined together by a long rod that runs the entire length of the church and then joined to the bells."

The bells have been silent since they were re-hung in 1972. A new bell frame was fitted but, unfortunately, provision that allowed the clock to strike was not.

Repairs are now due to be carried out by Smiths of Derby, the company that originally manufactured the clock.

It is not known when they will be carried out, but Mr Fowler hopes it will be in time for St Swithun's Day on Sunday, July 15.

"We're hoping to hold a mini festival with concerts during the evening," he said.

St Swithun's Church was founded in 1126, then completely remodelled between 1733 and 1735.

In 1977 it closed as a parish church, but continues to be preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust, which helped pay for the remainder of the work.

The city council money - about 40 per cent of the total cost - has come from the council's Historic Building Grant Scheme; a project which aims to repair, reinstate and maintain historic structures within the city's conservation areas.

St Swithun's Church is open every Friday for visitors. Anyone who would like to support the Friends of St Swithun's Church can call the honorary secretary on 01905 748312.