A BELL ringer is celebrating 60 years of service to churches across north Essex with an hour long peal performance.

John Felgate, 76, has been a dedicated campanologist since he was a youngster.

He started at St Nicholas' Church, Harwich when he was around 11-year-old and he used to stand on the chairs to be able to reach the ropes.

He has offered his skills at a number of churches in the area including St Peter's church in Colchester, Thorpe and Kirby-le-Soken where he lives with his wife Jill.

On Thursday, December 21 he will be heading back to St Nicholas' church to perform a quarter peal performance which will take 45 to 50 minutes to complete to mark 60 years to the day of his bell-ringing talent.

"I'll be ringing the same bell I did all those years ago," John added.

"My father was also bell ringer and I went to church with him and I've been doing it ever since then.

"I've rang in many churches throughout the community.

"It's a big interest for me - I usually bell ring about four times a week, three of those are practices.

"It keeps me quite busy, we sometimes do weddings and funerals when requested.

"Most of our ringers are of older age and they're recruiting as younger people get carried away with other things.

"I'm probably one of the longest serving members of the bell ringing association."

"It's something I enjoy."

The quarter peal performance will take place at 7.30 along with seven other people.

"It's interesting with bell ringing because you can't see the bells, you can see the ropes, but you can hear the bells," John added.

"I enjoy the sound of church bells and it is a skill I have developed over the years."