A CHURCH at the centre of a dispute over the noise from lengthy bell ringing sessions has said it will not make any changes to the Sunday afternoon routine.

A CHURCH at the centre of a dispute over the noise from lengthy bell ringing sessions has said it will not make any changes to the Sunday afternoon routine.

The parochial church council (PCC) at Aldeburgh parish church made the decision after being inundated with worldwide support for the ringing of bells.

Complaints had been made by up to 20 people, some of whom live very close to the church, about three-hour peals being rung on Sunday afternoons in June and July. They said the noise prevented them enjoying their gardens in the summer - they said they had no complaint about bell ringing on other occasions.

The matter was referred to the environmental health officers at Suffolk Coastal District Council, who ruled there was no noise nuisance. The PCC has now reviewed the matter and has decided not to make changes.

Nigel Hartley, vicar of Aldeburgh, received 300 e-mails expressing support for the bell ringers. Two petitions were also signed by hundreds of supporters.

He said: “The PCC has concluded that the current pattern, established for at least the last 30 years, of making peal attempts on the second Sunday of each month apart from August should continue unchanged.”