FOR 300 years, the bells at St Nicholas’ Church, in Durham City, have called worshippers to prayer, but only a few years ago it seemed they may fall silent forever because they had become so worn.

Yesterday, the bells – the oldest in the region – were lowered from their tower to be taken for refurbishment and tuning.

The copper and tin bells then began their journey to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, in London – where five of them were crafted and cast in 1687.

In a project costing £90,000, they will be cleaned, polished and refitted with a new steel frame and wooden wheels and pulleys in August.

For 20 years, the bells were silent until, in 1999, it was decided they could ring again. Repairs were carried out so they could be sounded again in 2000, but it was known they would need refurbishment.

Neil Thomas, from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, said: “The project to remove them started on Monday.

“The first problem was we had to cut a hole in the belfry floor because there was no trapdoor.”

The town clock was stopped at 12pm to allow the move and will remain stopped until the bells are returned.