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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
Chris Matthews

Angry locals slam yobs who scaled West Country church to ring bells at 1am

Angry locals have blasted yobs who scaled a West Country church to ring its bells at 1am. The noise woke the Cornish village after two men climbed scaffolding in the early hours.

The incident took place at St Columb Minor Church near Newquay on Monday (July 3) morning. The same church had been the victim of acts of vandalism lately with organ electrics ripped out and cleaning fluid thrown around in previous incidents, reports Cornwall Live.

Reverend Chris McQuillen-Wright told the BBC: "It is the second-tallest bell tower in Cornwall. From the outside, at the very top, we've never been bothered to lock it.

Read more: Bristol woman says her family was almost hit by falling tree during school run

"But, of course, with scaffolding up there, it meant they could access the bell tower. So, at one this morning, they decided they would ring the bells very loudly, which, of course, then attracted some attention."

Officers did attend the area and spoke to two men.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called at around 1am on Monday to reports of anti-social behaviour in St Columb.

"It was reported that two people were seen and heard ringing the church bells.

"Officers attended and spoke to the two men, who were dispersed from the area." The ringing of the bell was enough to wake confused local residents in the usually quiet village.

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