CHURCH bells will ring out again in Otley this weekend.

Otley Parish Church’s bells have not sounded properly since February due to the restrictions that came in with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the church’s bellringers will be back in action this Sunday, September 27 - albeit with social distancing in place.

Otley Parish Church Bellringers Tower Captain Meg Morton said: “People may have heard the church bells being rung last Friday morning for the first time since February.

“Our Steeple Keeper had just carried out a thorough safety check and they were being rung one at a time to make sure they were in good order. From this Sunday the bells will ring out again - not for the morning service as this would be a bit early for many people, but at 4pm. The bells will not be calling parishioners to a particular service but reminding us all that the church is open for prayer and also that we can pray and worship wherever we are.

“For the time being we will ring only three bells as we must keep the required distance apart, and we are allowed to ring for just 15 minutes.”