Dear all, Must add my contribution! I always felt that Stoke Abbott was a delightfully English village, free from the corruption of what is laughingly called the 'Home Counties' - they're not my home and never will be! The unspeakable arrogance of these incomers really gets to me. Just because they can afford to buy property at vastly infalted prices, thus preventing the youngsters born in the villages from continuing to live on their native patch, they think they own the world! Exactly the same thing has happened in the Lake District and now the taint is spreading to the whole of Cumbria. House prices have risen alarmingly over the past few years and, once again, the young folkk can't afford to buy. I see no solution, but when Carlisle and the surrounding area becomes commuter belt, what hope is there for the rest of the country? Ring the bells at 7.00 am! If they don't like it, they can move back to their polluted environments in the cities and let the Darzet volk get on with their loives!! Iain, from Brampton, Cumbria, A Dorset exile in the Far North

Perhaps they should put them back to the original time of 5am then so the whole village can get on with the farm work which was, I believe, the original reason for them being sounded. That would mean even a few of the "original" locals would complain as well no doubt. Considering Church Bells are one of the few exceptions to legislation on noise pollution, also considering how few people attend church these days, and how few of them wanting them retained live within earshot, I think the village should accept the majority wish and if that means sounding them later in the day then so be it. How anyone from out of earshot can hold a valid opinion on the matter beats me..!! Look on the bright side - Visitors (like most of us in this list) won't have to get up so early to get there to hear them when we visit the place..!!! I happen to live within earshot of Winchester Cathedral bells - Very pleasant for the first few months but a bit wearing after 15 years as they seem to have a limited repetoire..!!! .\.\-i-k-e... Contact via: http://www.fudge-family.com/mail/ Own Website: http://www.mikefudge.dsl.pipex.com/ Fudge Names: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=fudge