The historic bells of Tong village, which have been silent since the 1960s, will be ringing out once again following a £63,000 restoration programme.

The six bells were removed from the tower at St James’s Church in September before being taken to John Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough.

They have since been cleaned, tuned and restored by the bell founders, before being returned to the church last month.

The bells are expected to be in full working order by the end of the month, when they will be heard ringing out across the village for the first time in more than half a century.

Louise Connacher, who has co-ordinated the project, and has been a bellringer since she was 16, said “I am now looking forward to building a new team to ring and maintain these lovely bells.”

A local group of bellringers has been formed, but more recruits are needed to complete the team. Training sessions will begin during the spring.

As well as restoring the bells, the project has also focused on learning about the history of the bells and bellringers. The new Tong History Group has attracted a number of members, including one man whose grandfather was a member of the bellringing competition team during the 19th century.