ENERGETIC bell ringers at a Ryedale Church will soon be able to take it a bit easier thanks a completed renovation project.

The £21,000 scheme, to upgrade the bell tower at St Andrew's Church, Rillington, has included the installation of some much-needed disabled toilets.

The Rev Chris Hayes said most of the cash used in the building work was raised by local people.

"Everyone has been very generous. Only a small amount was raised from grants," he said.

"We have had generous donations from local people and we have had two major fundraising events over the past year."

Though the 13th century building is still going strong, the interior was in dire need of modernisation.

Two years ago a scheme was formulated to install a platform for the bell ringers and disabled toilets.

"The bell tower needed attention and this was an ideal way of raising some of the money we needed," said Mr Hayes.

"Before the bell ringers had to operate very long ropes which stretched from the floor to the roof of the tower.

"It took a great effort to ring the bells and you had to be particularly skilled to do it.

"The work has involved building a platform with a spiral staircase for the bell ringers.

"It means the ropes are much shorter and it's easier to ring the bells. Now we plan to ring them on a more regular basis instead of just at weddings."

The disabled toilets have been installed at the base of the tower, said Mr Hayes.

"Before, we had no facilities like this, so it was often very difficult for some members of our congregation," he added.

"We had a christening last Saturday - the first since the work was completed - and the toilets came in very useful for mums with young children."

About £2,000 is still needed to reach the set target for the project.

"We are holding a murder mystery sometime in the future so hopefully that will help us raise the remainder," said Mr Hayes.

Churchwarden Anne Hansen gave thanks to everyone who had helped raise money.

"Most of the money was raised locally and we are very grateful to all who supported it," she said.

Updated: 08:48 Tuesday, March 05, 2002