THE sound of bells will continue to fill the fresh air at a historic Haddington church.

Funding has been secured to ensure that the team who ring the bells can continue to breathe safely.

Haddington Society of Change Ringers have received a total of £840 from the town’s community council and common good fund.

The grants will be used to purchase a CO2 monitor and an air purifier for the ringing chamber at St Mary’s in Haddington.

Sally Thomas, ringing master, said: “We are immensely grateful for these grants from the community council and the common good fund.

“We have been ringing again for several months now, but as well as following all the Covid guidance, we have had to limit the time we ring for due to the ventilation issues.

“Now we can fully resume activities and feel confident that the air we are breathing is safe.”

Sally stressed it was difficult to achieve good ventilation in the room where the bells were rung.

Since ringing resumed last summer, an interim solution has been in place to ensure safe air quality for the ringers.

This has involved ensuring doors and hatches onto the roof of the church are open, while limiting the length of time the bells are rung.

The funding boost will enable the ringers to put in place a permanent solution to ensure the air they are breathing is as safe as possible.

The CO2 monitor means the air quality in the room can be checked, while the purifier will filter and remove particles from the air.

David Barrett was among the community councillors who backed the idea of making a grant. He said: “I would like to give them the greatest possible support available.”

The Rt Rev John Cairns, then Moderator of The General Assembly, dedicated the bells in June 1999.

The group has about 20 members with a wide age range and new recruits are always welcome.

Anyone interested in learning to ring the bells can email bells@stmaryskirk.co.uk