TWO years of fundraising to collect £35,000 so that the eight huge civic bells of Salisbury can be refurbished and retuned has ended in triumph.

At a mayoral reception and concert in the city's Guildhall, Mayor of Salisbury Sue Mallory and her guests heard that, thanks to more than £950 taken that night, the target figure had been reached, and work could go ahead to restore the bells of St Thomas's Church.

St Thomas's has close links with the mayor and Charter Trustees and is regarded as the city church.

Its bells are looked upon as the civic bells of Salisbury, because the cathedral has no bells.

Deputy tower captain Nigel Orchard, who organised the reception and concert, which featured Salisbury Youth Orchestra and Quintessentials, said it was a fitting end to what had been two years of hard work.

He said: "Because of certain deficiencies, the bells are getting difficult to ring and they need to be removed, retuned and then rehung.

"Fundraising started two years ago and it has been an uphill struggle.

"Various events have been held, including marathon runs, concerts, jumble sales and sales of home-made jams and chutneys, with an unbelievable amount of jam being made.

"We have also received generous donations.

"It is a remarkable effort."

The bells are due to be taken down on October 1 and are being restored by family firm Whites, of Appleton, in Oxfordshire, who have worked on the bells at St Paul's Cathedral, in London.

The oldest bell in St Thomas's belfry dates to 1716 and the seven others were hung in 1771.