The bells at Saltaire's historic church will ring for the first time in more than a century, thanks to the generosity of the widow of the man credited with reviving the village.

Maggie Silver, widow of Jonathan Silver, has pledged to underwrite the £30,000 project to install six new bells in the United Reformed Church at the World Heritage Site village.

So far around £500 has been collected from individuals and businesses willing to sponsor the project.

And it is hoped the bells, which are to be cast in Holland, will be heard for the first time in September on the 150th anniversary of the founding of the village.

News that the project is to become a reality comes 12 months after campaigner Eddie Lawler sang a song at a neighbourhood forum in the village, pleading for their re-instalment.

And Mrs Silver hopes the new bells, which will replace those installed by Sir Titus Salt himself, will provide a fitting memorial to her late husband.

Jonathan Silver, who died six years ago at the age of 47, transformed the derelict Salt's Mill into a vibrant and successful gallery and arts centre, paving the way for the village's renaissance.

The church's original bells were last rung in the 19th century before fears grew that the church structure was unable to hold them.

They were removed during the Second World War munitions crisis.

Currently, a CD-generated version of the sound of the bells is played from the Grade I listed church tower.

But poet and songwriter Mr Lawler - who wrote the song Ring the Devil Away about the campaign - said the new bells would provide a far more fitting soundtrack.

"I couldn't quite believe it when Mrs Silver got in touch and this is a massive contribution to make," he said today,

"She has been looking for some way of commemorating what her husband did for the village and this is absolutely spot on".

Donations for the restoration can be sent to Saltaire Village Society, 10 Caroline Street, Saltaire, Shipley BD18 4PU.