The clock at John the Baptist Church in Witheridge, north Devon, has rung out every 15 minutes for more than 150 years.

But it has now been forced to muffle the chimes during the night, with the Penrith-based Cumbria Clock Company being brought in to install the silencer.

The argument over the bells began when a homeowner grew tired of the noise and complained to North Devon Council - which served the parish council with a noise abatement notice.

The bells were silenced until all parties could reach a truce.

A group of residents set up a Change.org petition, which garnered 356 signatures in two days.

And on Friday, March 15, after more than two months of quiet, the bells were switched back on - but only during the day.

Thanks to the new £2,000 noise silencing device, the chimes only ring out every 15 minutes until 11pm - before starting again at 7am.

The saga over the Grade-I listed church bells was triggered by the complaint of just a single villager, according to the parish council.

Jacky Harvey, chairman of Witheridge Parish Council, said: "We were served an abatement notice and there was no way we could appeal, so it was just a question of closing the clock down.

“We are using parish council money [on the silencer] which we could use on other things which is a problem."

Jan Spier, a 78-year-old retired resident, who has lived in the village for 20 years said: “If they’re using money to pay for the silencer, that’s £2,000 less that will be spent on the village. It amazes me that it was allowed to happen.

“If you don’t like the bells, buy yourself some earmuffs. I think the whole thing is absolutely pointless.

“It’s a tradition that’s been going on since the church was built, it’s absolutely beyond comprehension that anyone could complain about that."

In a bizarre twist, the resident who initially complained about the clock has reportedly moved village since the complaint, locals said, leaving some outraged.

David Gale, a 75-year-old retired musician and physicist and resident of Witheridge started the petition to prevent the bells being silenced. 

He added: "We’ve been able to hear it chime in the dead of night - it’s fantastic and atmospheric.

"Loads of residents speak about being awake in the night and hearing the comforting sound of the bell."

'It's a shame'

Managing director of the Cumbria Clock Company Keith Scobie-Youngs, 60, fitted the silencer on Friday.

He said: “The problem is, it’s all about noise abatement. 

“I’ve been a clockmaker all my life specialising in church and public clocks and I feel that that should be allowed to strike through the night, like they have for over 100 years. 

“It’s a shame, I’m hoping the rules change, so that clocks that have been there for a long time can continue to strike and chime.”

His company also recently restored Big Ben.

Council comment

A spokesperson for North Devon Council, said: "The noise level from the clock bell was assessed by qualified and experienced officers of our environmental protection team. 

"They considered the loudness, the frequency and duration of the noise. It was considered that the chime every 15 minutes was likely to wake or disturb the sleep of the complainant and other residents nearby. 

"The level was such that is was determined that it was a ‘Statutory Nuisance under Section 79(g) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990."