THE return of the historic bells at St Martin’s Church in Worle was marked by a special service this week.

Weston Mercury: Bells arriving back from being refurbished with Rev Paul Larcombe and schoolchildren from Mendip Green.Bells arriving back from being refurbished with Rev Paul Larcombe and schoolchildren from Mendip Green. (Image: Archant)

They were removed from the building for the first time in nearly a century last year for re-tuning.

Weston Mercury: Bells arriving back from being refurbished with Rev Paul Larcombe and schoolchildren from Mendip Green.Bells arriving back from being refurbished with Rev Paul Larcombe and schoolchildren from Mendip Green. (Image: Archant)

Rev Paul Larcombe and his team, along with local school children, welcomed their return from the bell foundry in London on Monday.

Parishioners fundraised to find the tens of thousands of pounds for the work, which also included sprucing up the tower which houses the bells.

The oldest of the St Martin’s bells dates back to 1683 and the last time any of them were re-tuned was 1908.

They have rung across the centuries around the village, calling people to Sunday worship, weddings and other celebrations.