Ledbury Rector Dr Colin Beevers and his wife, Ann, will get two ringing tributes from the bell tower upon their retirement next month.

Dr Beever's last service will be on Sunday, July 3, and the bell-ringers are planning to ring a quarter peal, which will take 45 minutes and involve 1,260 changes.

On Saturday, July 9, the ringers will attempt a full peal, with 5,000 changes, as a farewell compliment to Dr and Mrs Beevers.

This will start at 9am and will last more than three hours.

Bells will be rung the following day at St Michael and All Angels', from 5pm, in a nationwide event to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The anniversary of VJ Day on August 15 will be celebrated by another full peal, starting at 4.30pm.

The Ledbury bell-ringers are also planning peals to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in October.