Bell-ringers at a church on the Shropshire border are now looking for new recruits to help keep the bells ringing long into the future.

The drive comes following the success of a traditional early morning Ascension Day bell ringing service at Eastham Church near Tenbury Wells.

On Ascension Day, ringers began a peal which lasted for 40 minutes, having started at 6.30am.

They then tucked in to a traditional cooked breakfast of egg, bacon, liver and local black pudding.

Church member and local resident Celia Adams said: “The ringing of the bells on Ascension Day follows a tradition that has been practiced in churches and cathedrals throughout the country for many, many years.

“The bells were so loud that they could be heard for up to a mile away and attracted much local interest, and the hearty breakfast went down a treat with everyone after all the hard work.

“People didn’t finally leave until around 9am.

“It was marvellous.”

Ascension Day is the celebration of Jesus’s ascent into Heaven after his resurrection on Easter Day.

The main users of Eastham Church’s bells are the Tenbury Bell Ringers who regularly ring the bells for celebrations and weddings.

“There is an enthusiastic group who work to keep the community tradition alive and to do this we need to recruit more ringers,” she added

Anyone interested in joining Eastham Church’s enthusiastic band of bell-ringers, should contact either Celia Adams on 07815 833892 or Eastham’s Church Warden, Sally Jones, on (01584) 781526.