St Peter's Church bell ringers kept alive the tradition along with other bell ringers in the UK and around the world of ringing in the new year.

Spokesman Caroline Welsh said: “To welcome in the new year of 2023, St Peter’s bell ringers rang for ten minutes before midnight on seven bells.

“Then Katherine Wilkins, the youngest ringer, tolled the 15½ cwt, 1770 old tenor bell 12 times before the whole band joined in.

“They rang rounds on all eight bells to celebrate the arrival of 2023.

“One of the ringers, Paula Tribe, fulfilled a lifelong ambition to ring in a new year.

“There followed a drink of Prosecco to toast in the new year.”