PAROCHIAL church councillors at St Denys the Minster Church in Warminster have launched a £10,000 appeal to repair their 282-year-old tenor bell.

The church’s largest bell, known as the ‘TENOR’, weighs a massive 1.25 tonnes and has a diameter of over four feet.

Originally cast at the Gloucester foundry of Abel Rudhall in 1737, the has now developed a crack.

It has become ‘Odd Struck’, due to seating and balance problems brought on by centuries of use and graceful old age, making it unsafe to ring.

The church has been forced to stop bellringing practice until the bell is repaired. So far, the appeal has raised just £800.

St Denys the Minster Church spokesman Tony Wilcox said: “Our original repair bill of £40,000 which through a humbling legacy left by Kathleen Rosalie Ashworth, and a great many personal donations we had strived to reach, now needs an additional £10,000 to bring the bell back to its former glory, for centuries to come and future generations to hear.

“This work will have eventually cost £50,000, none of which could happen without the generosity of donors and the selfless dedication of volunteers.”

To make a donation, go to https://www.wonderful.org/appeal/stdenyswarminstertenorbellrepairappeal