Ringing out the old

What is believed to be the world’s oldest church bell, at St Peter’s Church in West Tytherley, Hants, will ring today for the first time since the start of lockdown as the Church of England issues new guidelines for socially distanced bellringing. Left, St Peter’s steeple keeper Alan Sparrow checks the bell, which dates from 1260. Above, bellringers Gary Davies, 56, and Charlotte Rimmington, 28, practise the social distancing guidelines in the bell tower.