THE bells at St Mary's Church, Marlborough, have been forced to fall silent because of safety concerns.

Normally the peal of eight bells is heard on Tuesday practice nights, on Sundays when services are held and on many Saturdays when weddings take place.

But the peal of bells has been silenced because of a structural problem with a stone staircase leading up to the first floor ringing chamber.

A crack has appeared in the spiral staircase that ringers have to climb to reach the ringing chamber.

During a recent bell ringing session a small piece of masonry fell from the stairs one ringer told the Gazette.

Tower captain Don Lee confirmed the bells were unable to be rung for the time being but said the church did not want to say too much about it.

Mr Lee said a diocesan surveyor was due at St Mary's later this week to inspect the staircase and carry out a safety check.

If the staircase is found to be safe then ringing will resume straight away.

However if repairs are found to be needed then the bells will remain silent until that work has been carried out.