People power may have scored a victory for Silsden's parish church bells.

Reverend John Cooper had agreed to sell the six bells to help pay for thousands of pounds of essential work to the church tower.

But a group of townsfolk got together and attempted to persuade members of the parochial church council not to let the bells go.

Writing in the parish magazine, Mr Cooper said a decision on the future of the bells would be made soon.

And he revealed: "The PCC has heard them state their case and is in the process of getting further advice in order to decide if we should proceed with our original decision or, instead, retain the bells."

The six bells were due to be sold to a specialist metal dealer after the church claimed Silsdeners weren't interested in raising the £50,000 needed to save them.

Experts told church officials they would need to re-site the bells further down the tower to ensure their future and also carry out urgent repairs to the tower.

They said the bell frame acted as a battering ram against the tower and it was the only option if the bells were to ring out again.

Ann Jacobs, spokesman for the group trying to save the bells, said: "This is part of the heritage of Silsden and it would be a shame to let them go.

"We accept that we would be unable to raise the £50,000 needed at this time. We will need the assistance of groups interested in restoring the bells and would be looking for grants.

"All we are asking for at this point is that they are not sold and are left in situ until a later date when we can raise the necessary finance."

She said the National Lottery Heritage Fund is offering grants to restore church bells in time for a nationwide peel to mark the Millennium, but St James' Church missed the deadline.

Grace Smith, who recently played the organ non-stop for 12 hours to raise cash to save the bells, also organised a coffee morning which raised £162.

The next fundraising event takes place at the church on April 24 when members of Steeton Male Voice Choir will perform. Tickets cost £4.

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