BELL-ringers at St Andrew’s Church in Kildwick will join thousands across the world in remembering the fallen of the First World War on Sunday.

A special peal of bells will ring out in the village to mark the centenary of the end of hostilities, at 12.30pm.

Earlier in the morning the many thousands who lost their lives in the conflict - who included two church bell-ringers from Kildwick - will be remembered with the sombre tones of half muffled bells.

There will also be a special ‘time of commemoration’ around the Kildwick War Memorial during the morning.

And joining the church’s ringers for the 12.30pm peals marking the Armistice will be the Kildwick ‘mini-ringers’ - 12 pupils of Kildwick C of E Primary School who will join all of the church’s regular bell-ringers.

St Andrew’s Church ‘tower captain’ Chris Wright, who is also leader of the mini-ringers, said: “We are proud to play our part in this historic international event to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War, and to recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by many men and women from our own community.

“We are thrilled that both adults and children can come together to remember the fallen and to celebrate peace in this traditionally British way.”

He added that during this year church bellringers across the world have responded to a call to recruit 1,400 new ringers this year - the number of ringers thought to have lost their lives in the war.

Four new Kildwick ringers have benn in training to take their place in the ‘tower band in honour of those who fell.

Chris said: “At 7.05pm, the mood will change yet again as we open our doors to anyone who would like to make their own mark on this very special day.

“ As beacons are lit across the country, visitors will be welcomed to Kildwick where they will -with expert help! - be able to ring one of our great bells alongside members of the Kildwick band.

“All those who ring will be awarded a certificate to mark both a significant occasion and a personal achievement.

“The Kildwick Tower Bell Ringers came together in April 2017 as a completely new band in a ‘silent’ tower. All eight of the original ringers are still ringing – some reaching a stage where they can ring quarter peals to qualify for full membership of the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers.

“The band has now started to recruit new members and four new members have joined over the past few months. These four qualify to becoming official ‘Ringing Remembers’ ringers, joining in honour of the 1,400 who lost their lives.

“The Kildwick mini-ringers were formed in 2016 to introduce young people to a wide spread of bell-related topics.

“Mini-ringers learn about the patterns of change-ringing and perform these with handbells on a specially-marked map.”