THE bells of The Glover's Needle spire in Worcester will ring again to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002.

As well as a number of local community events to mark the jubilee weekend over June 1-4, councillors wanted something more permanent to mark the occasion.

The bells in the spire used to be rung to mark the beginning of council meetings at the Guildhall, before the body of St Andrew's Church was demolished in 1949.

The gardens around the tower were landscaped in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of the Queen and in 2001 the tower and spire were floodlit with the assistance of the Rotary Club of Worcester Severn as its millennium project.

The two hundred and forty five and-a-half foot tower is the tallest feature on the city skyline and used to contain a set of six working bells.

The only surviving bell is a tenor bell that dates back to the 16th Century.

At a meeting of the city council executive committee yesterday councillors decided to re-hang the bell in the tower and fit it with a an automatic chimer to strike on the hour.

At an estimated cost of less than £6,000, Councillor Martin Clarke said the project was value for money, which is why it was chosen over other projects such as extending the garden area of St Andrews.

"The disadvantage with these other projects was budgeting constraints," he said.

"I have got many good ideas of wonderful things to mark 50 glorious years, but we must be mindful of the tax payer," said chairman Councillor Robert Rowden

"In terms of value for money this is really excellent," said Councillor Stephen Inman.

"This will last for a considerable time and bring a feeling of history and culture back to the city."

Coun Inman added the project could help promote tourism in the city and would complement the Quayside fountain project.

The money for the project is likely to come from the provision set aside for improvements to the riverside as it would enhance St Andrew's gardens, a prominent riverside park.

Coun Clarke said the project should be completed just before the golden jubilee weekend so a ceremony could be held to coincide with other events at the time.