A STROUD vicar has cancelled a bell ringing peal after traders claimed the bells were driving shoppers away.

Traders at the Shambles Market in Stroud voiced concerns after bells rang for more than three hours at St Laurence Church.

As a gesture of goodwill, Reverend Malcolm King has called off a visiting party, who were due to undertake a peal next month.

Trader Andie Soutar, of the Global Organic fruit and vegetable stall, which backs on to St Laurence Church’s gates felt the length of the ringing was detrimental to trade.

He said:"I am not against bell ringing or the church but this did go on for quite a long time and it affected trade.

“I hope some compromise can be found.

“Apart from us not being able to think, there was a definite line in the market where people were not going.

“They just wouldn’t go in to that space because of the noise. It went on for more than three hours.”

Ron Cree, who runs the indoor market in St Laurence Church Hall, said he was not affected.

“We could not really hear it inside,” he said. “I heard that some market stall holders outside had written to the church because it got on their nerves a bit.”

Cllr Roger Sanders expressed his surprise at the reaction of traders.

He said: “I am quite shocked that stall holders are threatening to take action against the church to stop them ringing peals on the church bells. The ringing of the bells has been taking place for a very long time and is recognised as an important and popular activity in the town.

“With the ringing of peals only taking place just twice in the last two years, I would urge the stall holders to be tolerant, and accept this tradition in the spirit that the peals are rang, in peace and friendship.”

Reverend Malcolm King and church wardens Deirdre Baker and Mike Lambert issued a statement in response.

“St Laurence Church has 10 bells – there are not many local churches with that number and of course the bells become popular for visiting bell ringers,” the statement read.

“On the morning of September 27 a visiting bellringer team managed to ring a full peal – quite an achievement in itself - which lasted for three hours and five minutes.

“This is the first time a full peel has been rung on a Saturday morning for quite a while.

We understand that certain outside market stall holders found it difficult to hear for the length of time the peal was rung.

“It is a fact that church bells are of a certain volume so that they can be heard!

“As a goodwill gesture we have cancelled a peal that was to be rung by another visiting bellringer team on a Saturday morning in November.

“Any future peals for commemorations of events or ringing before or after religious services will take place as normal.

“Bell ringing practices take place on Tuesday nights – if you are interested in ringing please contact the church office in The Shambles for details.”