The bell ringers of Steeple Ashton and Keevil churches marked a brief moment in history by ringing rounds at precisely 9.10pm on the 11th day of the 12th month in the 13th year of this century.

The ringers were divided into two teams and each rang rounds with a short gap in between for a part of the actual tenth minute at St Mary’s, Steeple Ashton.

Then it was on to a busy festive season when they rang twice on Christmas Eve, again on Christmas Day and, of course, at midnight on December 31 to ring out the old year and ring in the new.

The new year will be a special one for the group, which rings in both Steeple Ashton and Keevil churches, as in October it will mark the 70th year of its re-formation in 1944.