NEARLY £44,000 has been raised towards the restoration of six bells in St Mary’s Church in Long Wittenham.

The restoration work is expected to start on the bells - that date back to 1765 - next summer, by Whites of Appleton.

This work will include restoring the bells, the bell wheels, new ropes and rope guides, as well as the transportation of the bells to the company’s works.

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The appeal has been headed by Julia Sargent from Little Wittenham, who said: “I would like to thank the overwhelming generosity and support of villagers, organisations, friends and bell ringers. Thanks are also due to a number of national grant-giving charities.”

She continued: “The restoration fund, refurbishment and re-hanging of the bells in St Mary’s has exceeded the original estimate. Having taken responsibility of fund raising for this project I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the fund and given me moral support. We look forward to hearing the bells which are a joy to hear and ring”.

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The village church has raised £43,756 and the revised estimate by Whites of Appleton for the restoration is £36,700 so there will be an extra emergency fund of £7,000.

This will be the first time the bells in the St Mary's tower have been restored since 1923.

Five of the six bells at St Mary’s were made by a London company in 1765 and the sixth bell was cast in 1923.

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The Sanctus bell, which is chimed before services can be dated back to 1799.

The tenor, weighing 9cwt and has a diameter of 37 inches and the treble bell weighs 4cwt with a diameter of 27 inches will be among the six bells being restored with the £43,756 raised.

Once the bells have been restored they will be back in use at the church and continue to ring for services as they have done since the 1700s.