THANKS to a new treble bell which has been installed at a rural church, a village now has its own war memorial.

Michaelchurch Escley had no war memorial to either world war so the chairman of the parochial church council (PCC) Anthony Egremont-Lee came up with a novel idea.

St Michael's Church in the village was having its five existing bells restored so Major Egremont-Lee suggested an additional bell to be cast as a memorial to the First World War.

That treble bell has now been dedicated by the Bishop of Hereford Richard Firth.

During the service at the packed church the bishop recalled the long history of church bells and the significant role they have played in the history of the nation.

The church now has a new band of ringers, having been without one since the 1980s.

They began training in March last year under the watchful eye of Nick Cooper-Tomkins, the master of the Hereford and Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Before and during the service the bishop watched the new ringers in action and each were presented with a guild certificate.

Following the service a celebratory cake was cut by Olive Howells, the senior churchwarden, who has been on the PCC for 45 years.

In an event titled Ringing for Peace, on November 11 at 7.05pm, 100 years after Armistice Day, bells from all over the nation will be rung to mark the end of the Great War, during which St Michael's memorial bell will add its own salute.