AFTER decades of laying silently idle, an antique school bell in Herefordshire will ring out for the first time in around 40 years on May 19.

The bell at Little Dewchurch Primary School will toll after being restored as part of the school's three-year improvement programme.

Weighing in at 245kg, the bronze bell was restored during the Easter break by Clehonger antiques restorer, Chris Gardiner.

Sandra Peate, head teacher at Little Dewchurch CE Primary, said: "This was a wish of mine for many years and now we have achieved it."

The bell was cast in 1867 and carries the stamp of makers John Taylor & Co., the world's oldest and largest bell foundry.