LUDLOW'S St Laurence bell peels make the tower sway, are too noisy when bell-ringers are practising and could sound better.

Townspeople, unaware of these defects, could learn more soon thanks to a £70,000 bell appeal to be launched on August 27.

John Turney, St Laurence's tower captain, said: "We currently have eight bells in St Laurence and a very strong band of ringers. We are hoping to add five more lighter bells and make improvements which will include additional sound-proofing for practice nights and reduce the way the tower sways when we are ringing."