A SMALL community has put out an SOS appeal to save its church bells from falling silent.

Things have reached crisis point in the belfry at Winksley Parish Church, near Ripon, with regular ringers down to two.

For generations, the bells of the Anglican church, built in memory of a staunch Methodist, have called folk to worship, weddings and other special occasions.

If the tradition is to continue, the church needs more volunteers to ring the four bells with at least four more volunteers needed to man the ropes on a rota.

Anne Carrick, a newly-licensed reader in the Fountains area, said: "Anyone who wants to be a bellringer can do it - any age, any sex, the 'readiness is all' as Shakespeare said."

Miss Carrick answered the call for more bellringers - taking up the hobby as a 70-year-old.

She said it proves age should not be a barrier, and added: "It would be very sad if ringing the bells was had to stop it has been a tradition at Winksley for so long."

Less than 100 people live in the village of Winksley, near Ripon, which is dominated by the 20th Century church and its landmark tower.

"You don't need a great deal of physical strength to ring the bells - just energy enough to get up the tower steps," said Miss Carrick, a churchwarden at nearby Aldfield Parish Church.

To answer the bellringing appeal, telephone Stuart Wakefield on (01765) 605697.