A group of Shropshire bell ringers have chimed back at a local resident who complained of noise.

The group, from St Andrew’s Church in Shifnal, Shropshire took to the town’s Facebook group after a resident complained that chimes could be heard throughout the night at the top of the hour.

The bell ringers insisted that overnight chimes were not a result of late-night pealing practice, but were automated. "Sorry if this tradition upsets you,” posted a bell-ringer, who said the midnight bells are “very important to our church community and should continue".

One resident said: “We are very lucky to have the bells, I love them. You can’t please everyone but they are part of Shifnal and long may they ring." 

Vicar Rev Chris Thorpe told BBC Shropshire that he had received complains about the overnight chimes before. He said they are separate from the bell ringing group, but are a “comforting” sound and an "amazing piece of history".