ENGLAND'S oldest church bells - which could be the oldest peal in Christendom - are ringing out again after a major rebuild.

ENGLAND'S oldest church bells - which could be the oldest peal in Christendom - were ringing out again this morning after a major rebuild.

The peal at St Lawrence church in Ipswich was being rung for the first time since they were re-hung earlier this week.

Dating back to the middle ages, they would have been heard by Cardinal Wolsey when he was growing up in the town.

Adrian Knights, who normally rings at St Mary le Tower, said: “It was certainly worthwhile getting up early to ring the bells! It's great that they are now back in action.”

Roger Whittell, who also rings at St Mary le Tower, said he hoped the bells would now be rung regularly. “We always try to ring all the bells in Ipswich in the run-up to Christmas, and it will be wonderful to have these back in operation again.”

Neil Thomas from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry which restored the bells said: “I normally come to check when they are first run again. It's all very well to have bells in a museum, but nothing can beat hearing them rung again.”