BURY'S mayor was roped in to help launch an appeal for more bell ringers.

Councillor Paul Nesbit joined the current eight-strong team of campanologists at Bury Parish Church to help ring the church bells.

The borough's First Citizen was joined by his wife and mayoress, Shirley, and their ten-year-old daughter Beverley for the bell ringing session.

The mayor said: "It was brilliant, an absolutely wonderful experience that everyone should have a go at.

"You can walk past a church and when the church bells are ringing it is a truly beautiful sound but no-one appreciates the skill and abilities of the people doing the bell ringing.

"It has always been something I have wanted to do and jumped at the chance to have a go."

The mayor was given a 20-minute introductory lesson before he was let loose on the ropes. He added: "It is not as easy as it seems. It takes about 12 months to learn and the current campanologists, only eight in number, are very much under strength. They turn out every Sunday and work their magic at weddings and special occasions.

"Ideally, there needs to be about 16 people on the books and I would recommend anyone who fancies having a go to make contact with the church. It is great fun."