THE region’s oldest set of bells has returned home following a £100,000 restoration.

The 300-year-old bells of St Nicholas’ Church have been absent from Durham Market Place since May, when they were removed for restoration in London.

The bells were lifted back into place yesterday lunchtime.

Church spokeswoman Dorothy Nicholas said: “It is going to take three weeks to finish the work, so we hope to ring them by the end of November.

“We are very excited that the bells are back safely.”

Five of the copper and tin bells date from 1687, while the smallest, a treble, is Victorian. They weigh 200kg to 500kg.

Having been silent through the Eighties and Nineties, the bells underwent minor repairs, allowing them to be sounded again from 2000, but more extensive work was needed.

A service to celebrate the bells’ return will be held at the church at 2.30pm on January 30.

It is hoped ringers from across the country will attend.