FOR years Canterbury Cathedral has been the only place of worship in the county to enjoy a full ring of 12 bells. But it is soon to have a rival.

St George's, the parish church for Benenden, already has a fine ring of eight bells, but the ringers are soon to realise their ambition of achieving the full dozen when they take delivery of four additional bells on November 10.

The new bells, paid for by local well-wishers, will allow the ringers not only to achieve the most advanced musical rings, but also to provide a light ring of six bells on the diatonic scale which will make it easier for youngsters to pick up the bell-ringing art.