THE bells of a Padiham church have been removed for the first time for more than 100 years as part of a major refurbishment programme.

Last year headteacher Julia Bradley volunteered to abseil down the tower at St Leonard's to help raise the £40,000 cash needed for the bells appeal.

The daredevil teacher, 41, of St Leonard's C of E Primary School, joined vicar Mark Jones in the plunge and raised £2,000 by performing the stunt at the Summer Fair at the church in June.

Mr Jones, a trained bell-ringer, decided that the bell tower at St Leonard's was in urgent need of repairs last year.

The wheels, bearings, pulleys and headstocks -- the wooden block the bells are attached to -- all need renovating.

The mammoth job will see the eight bells re-tuned and restored by specialists in Loughborough.

Six bells were installed when the church was built in 1866 but were re-cast in 1900 when a further two were added.

They were last rung for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in June. But Mr Jones wants to see them restored to their former glory and regularly used.

A process of time and use has worn the wheels and headstocks which mean that each time they are now rung, it takes the peelers hours to prepare them.